Increased natural killer-cell activity is associated with infertile women

Citation
H. Matsubayashi et al., Increased natural killer-cell activity is associated with infertile women, AM J REPROD, 46(5), 2001, pp. 318-322
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Immunology
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
ISSN journal
10467408 → ACNP
Volume
46
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Pages
318 - 322
Database
ISI
SICI code
1046-7408(200111)46:5<318:INKAIA>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
PROBLEM: An increase in natural killer (NK)-cell activity has been observed in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages. Because of the many simi larities between infertility and early pregnancy loss patients, we investig ated whether infertile women had raised NK-cell activity. METHOD OF STUDY: We tested 94 infertile women who, in spite of treatment, w ere unable to conceive for 6 or more months. NK-cell activity was measured by using a chromium-51 release cytotoxicity assay, with K562 human myeloid leukemia cells as targets. RESULTS: NK-cell activity of the infertile group (mean +/- SD; 40.2% +/- 14 .7) was significantly higher than the control group (31.5% +/- 11.9, P < 0. 0001). The increased NK-cell activity was not associated with age, infertil e duration, depression scores, treated hyperprolactinemia, or treated endom etriosis. CONCLUSIONS: In certain patients, elevated NK-cell activity may be consider ed an independent risk factor for infertility.