Dysregulated low-density granulocyte contributes to early spontaneous abortion

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Reproductive Medicine
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Spontaneous abortion (SA) is a common adverse pregnancy outcome with poorly understood pathogenesis.
• Immunological factors are implicated in SA, but the role of low-density granulocytes (LDG) remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the characteristics and contribution of LDG and their subpopulations in early pregnancy and spontaneous abortion.
• To explore the role of LDG in the pathogenesis of early SA.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of non-pregnant, normally pregnant, and SA women.
• Isolation and analysis of LDG from peripheral blood and decidua using flow cytometry.
• Assessment of LDG phenotype, subpopulations, and Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET) formation via immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry.

Main Results:

• LDG percentages in peripheral blood and decidua differed between pregnant and non-pregnant states, with altered patterns in SA.
• Specific LDG subpopulations (CD16int/- and CD16hi) showed distinct changes in SA.
• Decidual LDG exhibited higher activation potential, and increased NET formation was observed in SA decidua.

Conclusions:

• LDG are involved in early pregnancy maintenance.
• Dysregulated LDG function and increased decidual NET formation are associated with spontaneous abortion.
• LDG represent potential therapeutic targets for managing early SA.