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Altered immunophenotypic parameters in infertile women. Possible role of herpes viremia

D Thomas1, V Michou, T Moustakarias

  • 1Department of infertility, Locus Medicus Laboratory, Athens, Greece. locus@otenet.gr

American Journal of Reproductive Immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989)
|August 18, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Subclinical herpesvirus viremia may cause immune system stimulation in infertile women. This study found correlations between herpesvirus infections and changes in natural killer (NK) cells and T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Virology

Background:

  • Infertility affects a significant number of women.
  • The role of subclinical infections in female infertility is not fully understood.
  • Herpesviruses are common and can establish lifelong infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate alterations in peripheral blood lymphocyte concentrations in infertile women.
  • To explore the potential role of herpesvirus viremia in peripheral immune stimulation among infertile women.

Main Methods:

  • Immunophenotypic analysis of peripheral blood cells from 168 infertile women.
  • Detection of herpesviruses DNA in peripheral blood samples.
  • Correlation analysis between viral presence and immune cell counts.

Main Results:

  • Herpesvirus viremia was statistically correlated with concentrations of natural killer (NK) cells (CD56+/CD16+ and CD56+/CD16-) and lymphocytes.
  • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viremia showed a slight reduction in CD56+/CD16- NK cells.
  • Triple herpesvirus viremia was associated with elevated T-lymphocyte, CD4+ T-cell, and CD8+ T-cell concentrations.

Conclusions:

  • Subclinical herpesvirus viremia may contribute to peripheral immune stimulation in infertile women.
  • These immune alterations could play a role in the pathophysiology of infertility.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm the causal link and explore therapeutic implications.
Abstract

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