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Updated: Feb 27, 2026
Author Spotlight: Multiplex Immunohistochemistry for Understanding Immune Regulation by Uterine NK Cells in Pregnancy
Published on: October 25, 2024
Uterine natural killer cells in patients with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage
Ruben-J Kuon1, Maja Weber2, Julia Heger2
1Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders, Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Problem:
Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells are major players during implantation and early pregnancy. The aim of our study was to analyze uNK cell concentration in the endometrium of idiopathic recurrent miscarriage (iRM) patients and fertile controls.
Method Of Study:
Out of n=130 couples with ≥3 consecutive, clinical RM screened according to a standardized diagnostic protocol, n=58 patients with iRM were identified. Endometrial biopsies were investigated in patients and n=17 fertile women (controls) via immunohistochemistry.
Results:
Compared to controls, the concentration of uNK cells was significantly higher in iRM patients (257±212 vs. 148±73 uNK cells/mm², P=.04). IRM patients showed a higher prevalence of >300 uNK cells/mm² than controls (34.5% vs. 5.9%, P=.02). In 88% of controls and 62% of iRM patients, uNK cells were detected within the range of 40-300/mm².
Conclusion:
Idiopathic recurrent miscarriage patients showed higher uNK cell levels than controls supporting the possible impact of uNK cells in the pathophysiology of miscarriage. Our cutoff levels might help to select RM patients which may benefit from immunomodulatory treatment.
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07:46Author Spotlight: Advancing Reproductive Immunology with a Protocol for the Quantitative Evaluation of Endometrial Immune Cells
Published on: October 13, 2023
05:16Multiplexed Fluorescent Immunohistochemical Staining of Four Endometrial Immune Cell Types in Recurrent Miscarriage
Published on: August 4, 2021
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