Characteristics of peripheral blood NK and NKT-like cells in euthyroid and subclinical hypothyroid women with thyroid autoimmunity experiencing reproductive failure.

Thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) appears to play a crucial role in female infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss and IVF failure. Thyroid autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin have been shown to represent an independent risk factor for infertility and miscarriage. Moreover, thyroxin hormone administration reduces the risk of obstetrical complications in TAI positive women.

Expansion of CD4 phenotype among CD160 receptor-expressing lymphocytes in murine pregnancy.

Problem: CD160, a cell surface co-receptor, is capable of up- or downregulating cell proliferation, cytotoxicity or cytokine production on lymphocytes. Our aim was to investigate CD160 lymphocytes in the periphery and at the maternal-foetal interface during murine pregnancy.

Method Of Study: CD4 , CD8 and gamma/delta T-cell phenotype, TIM3 co-expression and cytotoxic activity of CD160 lymphocytes of pregnant BALB/c mice were analysed by flow cytometry.

Peripheral blood TIM-3 positive NK and CD8+ T cells throughout pregnancy: TIM-3/galectin-9 interaction and its possible role during pregnancy.

Problem: The T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM) family is a relatively newly described group of molecules with a conserved structure and important immunological functions. Identification of Galectin-9 as a ligand for TIM-3 has established the Galectin-9/TIM-3 pathway as an important negative regulator of Th1 immunity and tolerance induction. Data about the TIM-3/Gal-9 pathway in the pathogenesis of human diseases is emerging, but their possible role during human pregnancy is not precisely known.

Involvement of Galectin-9/TIM-3 pathway in the systemic inflammatory response in early-onset preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia is a common obstetrical disease affecting 3-5% of pregnancies and representing one of the leading causes of both maternal and fetal mortality. Maternal symptoms occur as an excessive systemic inflammatory reaction in response to the placental factors released by the oxidatively stressed and functional impaired placenta. The T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain (TIM) family is a relatively newly described group of molecules with a conserved structure and important immunological functions.

Solid-state fermentation for production of phytase by Rhizopus oligosporus.

Solid-state fermentation of coconut oil cake has been carried out with Rhizopus oligosporus for the production of phytase. Phytase is used commercially in the animal feed industry to improve animal performance because there is a substantial and growing interest among swine and poultry producers in the application of phytase to improve the nutritional quality in animal feeds. Demonstrated benefits include improved feed yield ratios and reduction in the environmental costs associated with the disposal of animal wastes.