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Obstetrics and Gynegology2021№7
The role of peripheral and...

The role of peripheral and endometrial natural killer cells in recurrent reproductive losses

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2021.7.19-27

Zagainova V.A., Kogan I.Yu., Bespalova O.N., Selkov S.A., Sokolov D.I.

D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Many infertile couples cannot achieve pregnancy after repeatedly implemented assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs, as well as its successful prolongation, even with the transfer of good-quality euploid embryos. In this connection, repeated implantation failures (RIFs) in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols and recurrent miscarriage (RM) are important medical and social problems. The generally accepted methods
of examination do not explain the cause of repeated reproductive failures in 30-50% of cases. Among the causes
of idiopathic reproductive losses, the immunological factor, including both systemic and local changes in the immune status, plays a leading role. Innate immune cells have been established to play a central role in the processes of implantation, placentation, formation, and maintenance of immune tolerance towards a developing embryo. Of great scientific and practical interest are natural killer (NK) cells that are the largest population of endometrial lymphocytes, changes in the quantitative and qualitative profile of which in both peripheral blood and the endometrium are associated with conditions, such as RIF, RM, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, preeclampsia and others.
Conclusion. The conducted studies indicate the important role of both subpopulations of NK cells in a woman’s reproductive health. However, to date, there are insufficient data on the function and mechanisms of action of NK cells in reproductive losses, which requires further investigation.

Keywords

NK cells
natural killers
phenotype
activity
implantation
IVF failures
repeated implantation failures
recurrent miscarriage
Full text (in Russian)

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Received 21.12.2020

Accepted 12.01.2021

About the Authors

Valeriya A. Zagaynova, Postgraduate student of the Department of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology. E-mail: zagaynovav.al.52@mail.ru. ORCID: 0000-0001-6971-7024. 199034, Mendeleevskaya line, 3, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Igor Yu. Kogan, Corresponding Member of RAS, MD, PhD, DSci (Medicine), Director of the D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology; Professor of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, St. Petersburg State University. E-mail: ovrt@ott.ru. ORCID: 0000-0002-7351-6900.
199034, Mendeleevskaya line, 3, St. Petersburg, Russia; 199034, Universitetskaya emb., 7, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Olesya N. Bespalova, MD, PhD, DSci (Medicine), Deputy Director, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology. E-mail: shiggerra@mail.ru, ORCID: 0000-0002-6542-5953. 199034, Mendeleevskaya line, 3, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Sergey A. Selkov, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Professor, Head of the Department of Immunology and Intercellular Interactions, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology. E-mail: selkovsa@mail.ru. ORCID: 0000-0003-1560-7529. 199034, Mendeleevskaya line, 3, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Dmitry I. Sokolov, DSci (Bio), Head of the Laboratory of Intercellular Interactions, Department of Immunology and Intercellular Interactions, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology. E-mail: falcojugger@yandex.ru. ORCID: 0000-0002-5749-2531. 199034, Mendeleevskaya line, 3, St. Petersburg, Russia.

For citation: Zagainova V.A., Kogan I.Yu., Bespalova O.N., Selkov S.A., Sokolov D.I. The role of peripheral and endometrial natural killer cells in recurrent reproductive losses.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2021; 7: 19-27 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2021.7.19-27

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