A blinded multicenter investigation: Accentuated NK lymphocyte CD335 (NKp46) expression predicts reproductive failures after IVF.

The peripheral blood NK cell diversity is highly complex. Recent studies have described more than a thousand phenotypes sharing NK cell receptors (NKRs), across the leukocyte lineages. Previously, we have found that accentuated NK p46 phenotype has prognostic value for NK cytotoxicity status, and is characteristic for patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF). In a blinded investigation we studied blood samples from IVF women before embryo transfer (pre-implantation genetic tested [PGT] embryos n = 116; not tested embryos n = 219). We studied NKp46 expression by flow cytometry and anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL) levels. aCL results were transmitted to the clinic but NKp46 expression was blinded (for us and for the clinic) and not analyzed before termination of the study (end of last pregnancy). Association of NKp46 phenotype with clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), pregnancy failure (PF) rate and life birth rate (LBR) were analyzed. aCL positive and IvIg treated cases were excluded. IVF success was dependent on p46 NK phenotype in patients with PGT embryos. Elevated p46 expression on NK (>93%) as well as decreased (<66%) significantly reduce CPR (OR 12.7 and 3.8) without affecting pregnancy failure frequency. Both accentuations (taken together) resulted in a significant reduction of LBR (OR 3.9 p = 0.019) compared with non-accentuated phenotypes (p46 levels 66-93%). Elevated NK cell levels (>14.5% weakly) were associated with PF (OR 3.1 p = 0.069), but not significantly with reduced LBR. In contrast, numbers of NKCD335+ lymphocytes (>11.5%) were a significant predictor of PF (OR-4.0 p<0.05) and decreased LBR (OR 2.1 p = 0.06). At the same time, accentuated numbers of NKCD335neg lymphocytes (<0.7 and >4%) were also associated with decreased LBR (OR 2,65 p = 0.05). In patients with NKCD335++ numbers (<5 and >21%), we found a weakly association with IVF failure. We found similar associations in IVF patients without PGT -A but at lower significance levels regardless the higher number of patients. Impact of NKp46 phenotype for IVF success was significant in patients with donor's ET and almost imperceptible in patients > 35y.o. with own embryo transfer. Accentuated increased or decreased CD335 expression on NK was associated with embryo implantation failure. Balanced CD335 levels form a condition favorable for implantation. Elevated numbers of p46+NK (CD3-CD56+CD335+) predicts pregnancy failures at higher significance levels than elevated NK cell numbers. Elevated numbers of p46negNK (CD3-CD56+CD335-) indicate reduced LBR. Accentuation of p46 expression on NK cells is associated with reproductive failures. In combination with PGD it provides a powerful prediction algorithm and treatment option.

Comparison of T and NK lymphocyte subsets between human endometrial tissue and peripheral blood.

Immune profiles in endometrium may be changed in patients with IVF failure and its possible correlations with immune parameters in peripheral blood are important for the diagnostic approach. Such correlations in healthy women are unknown and have been studied in the present research. The expression of CD56, CD158a, HLA DR, CD69 in T lymphocytes, CD4 T lymphocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes and NK cells were studied by flow-cytometry in endometrium and peripheral blood in healthy 24 donors of oocytes aged 25-32 years. Levels of T lymphocyte and T helper cells were lower in endometrium and no differences in CD8 T lymphocytes were registered between endometrium and peripheral blood. The expression of HLA DR and especially CD69 was higher in CD3, CD4, CD8 T cells in endometrium in comparison with peripheral blood. The endometrium lymphocyte population was enriched by NK cells that were generally CD56++ with a higher expression of HLA DR and almost in total were CD69 positive. Strong positive correlations of CD8 expression in NK cells (r = 0.6478, p < 0.001) and HLA DR expression in CD8 T cells (r = 0.6107, p < 0.01) between peripheral blood and endometrium were registered in fertile women. The endometrial CD56 expression in CD8+ T cells negatively correlated with endometrial CD8 expression in NK cells (r = -0.5252, p < 0.01) which possibly reflected a suppressive and regulating mechanism in the endometrium. CD8+ NK cells and HLA DR+ CD8 T cells in endometrium were related to the same subsets in peripheral blood.

Multiple immune deviations predictive for IVF failure as possible markers for IVIG therapy.

Recently we have shown that immune deviations (ID) may predict IVF failure. Benefit from IVIG therapy was observed in 115 women with repeated IVF failure according to proposed multiple ID that appeared unfavorable for implantation and live birth. Group of 123 women with repeated IVF failure without IVIG therapy was compared with former group. Immune phenotype and NK activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied by flow cytometry. Potentially predictive for IVF failure ID included elevated expression of CD56, CD158a in T lymphocytes, decreased levels of CD4T lymphocytes, up-regulated expression of HLA DR in CD8+ T cells and NK cells, elevated number of NK cells and increased NK cytotoxicity, increased or decreased expression of CD158a and CD8 in NK cells. Three or more ID may predict implantation failure to a greater degree than one or two ID. In women receiving IVIG in subgroups with 0-1 and 2 ID, there was no increase in implantation rate (IR) and live birth rate (LBR) after IVIG in comparison with patients with the same number of ID but without IVIG correction. After IVIG therapy decreased IR and LBR were restored in women with three or more immune deviations. Multiple immune deviations indicate IVF patients who may benefit from IVIG therapy. IVIG seems to convert "unfavorable" immune phenotype to "favorable" one.

Favorable immune phenotype predicts successful implantation and pregnancy.

Immune markers that may predict IVF failure and successful implantation and pregnancy were studied. Favorable immune parameters were selected based on 90% of data of women who got pregnant and had uneventful pregnancy course and outcome in present IVF cycle. Immune phenotype and NK cell activity of peripheral blood of 123 women with multiple IVF failure were studied by flow cytometry. Some parameters that were out of favorable borders (elevated expression of CD56, CD158a in T lymphocytes, decreased levels of CD4 T lymphocytes, up-regulated expression of HLA DR in CD8+ T cells and NK cells, elevated number of NK cells and increased NK cytotoxicity, increased and decreased expression of CD158a and CD8 in NK cells) were considered to be immune deviations (ID) potentially predictive for IVF failure. In women with 0-1 ID implantation rate (IR) was 50.9% (27/53), with two ID - 42.8% (12/28), with three and more ID - 21.4% (9/42). IR in group with three ID was lower than in group with 0-1 ID (p<0.01, OR=3.8, CI: 1.52-9.48) and in group with two ID (p<0.05). Live birth rate (LBR) in women with 0-1 ID was 33.9%, with two ID - 28.5%, with three and more ID - 9.5%. LBR in group with three ID was lower than in group with 0-1 ID (p<0.01, OR=4.8, CI: 1.52-15.8) and in group with two ID (p<0.05). The absence or single ID seems to be more favorable for successful IVF program. Combination of ID may predict implantation failure to a greater degree than isolated ID. Multiple immune deviations form unfavorable "immune phenotype" for implantation and pregnancy development.