[NK, T and B lymphocyte populations in infertile women]

ABSTRACT

Many different factors and problems can cause infertility. This study carried out to compare NK, T and B lymphocyte populations in peripheral blood of fertile and infertile women. In this case-control study 30 infertile women and 15 non pregnant women participated. The non pregnant women had a history of at least two alive children as a control group. The monoclonal antibodies and flowcytometry were used for evaluation of T cell subpopulations [CD3, CD4, CD8], B cells [CD22] and NK cells [CD56] in fertile and infertile women. NK cells [CD56] significantly increased in infertile women compared with control groups [P=0.009] and T lymphocytes CD3, CD4 significantly reduced in infertile women compared with fertile women [P=0.013, P=0.004, respectively]. CD4/CD8 ratio reduced in infertile women compared with fertile women [P=0.05]. There was no difference in B cells and CD8 T cells in infertile women compared with controls. This study showed that NK cells increase and CD4 T lymphocytes reduce in infertile women. Our results suggest the immunological alterations may be related to infertility