Aberrant ICOS -T cell differentiation in women with spontaneous preterm labor.

Problem: Recent studies revealed appropriate differentiation of recent thymic emigrant (RTE)-regulatory T cells (Tregs) to be crucial for maintaining healthy pregnancy. Currently, the role of responder T cells (Tresps) is not known.

Method Of Study: Six-color flow cytometric analysis was used to detect differences in the differentiation of highly proliferative inducible co-stimulatory (ICOS) -RTE-Tregs/Tresps and apoptosis-sensitive ICOS -RTE-Tregs/Tresps into mature naïve (MN)-, CD31 -memory and CD31 -memory Tregs/Tresps in women with spontaneous preterm labor (sPL) compared to healthy pregnancy.

The role of recent thymic emigrant-regulatory T-cell (RTE-Treg) differentiation during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, regulatory T cells (Tregs) have a key role in maternal immune tolerance to the semi-allogeneic fetus. Our previous results showed that the naive CD45RA(+)-Treg pool is functionally improved in pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women. Therefore, we examined the thymic output and differentiation of CD45RA(+)CD31(+) recent thymic emigrant (RTE)-Tregs during normal pregnancy and in the presence of preeclampsia.