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Down-regulated expression of perforin positive/CD16+ cells in the peripheral blood lymphocytes in the first trimester of pregnancy and up-regulation at the end of pregnancy

Problem: Immunophenotypic profiles of perforin (P)-positive peripheral blood lymphocytes in the first trimester and at the term of human pregnancy were analyzed. Method of study: Perforin expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes subsets was measured by simultaneous detection of P (intracellular antigen) and cell surface antigens (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD56) by flow cytometry in non-pregnant (NP) and pregnant women in the first trimester (FTP) and at the time of parturition (TP). Results: The percentage of total P+ cells in peripheral blood compared to nonpregnant women was slightly lower in the FTP but significantly higher at TP. Perforin positive cells were significantly elevated in T lymphocytes subsets (CD3+P+, CD4+P+, CD8+P+) in both FTP and TP groups, as was the percentage of CD56+P+ cells. Profound changes in the CD16+ subpopulation were found in FTP group compared to both the NP and TP groups (a drastic decrease of: CD16+P+ cells; CD16+ cells among P+ cells; P+ cells among CD16+ cells). A considerable part of CD3+ cells in both FTP and TP groups are CD3+CD56+P+. The average fluorescence intensity (AFI) for P (a measure of P content per cell) was significantly decreased in FTP and increased in TP groups. Conclusion: The CD16 molecule is FcgamaRIIIA which is the only Fc receptor responsible for antibody dependent cell-cytotoxicity (ADCC) of NK and T-cells. In the first trimester human pregnancy this mechanism is severely downregulated compared to both NP and TP groups.

lymphocytes; NK cells; perforin; peripheral blood; pregnancy; T lymphocytes

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