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Purpose

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) could be caused by insufficient progesterone in the luteal phase of menstruation and early pregnancy. Progesterone plays a critical role in oocyte maturation, embryo implantation and placenta maintenance in early gestation. This study was set out to investigate the association between polymorphisms of the progesterone receptor (PGR) gene and idiopathic RPL.

Methods

One hundred twenty-one women with a history of idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and 179 control subjects were enrolled into the study. Six tag SNPs and two functional SNPs [PROGINS (rs1042838), +331 C/T (rs10895068)] of the progesterone receptor gene were genotyped.

Results

We found that the allele and genotype frequencies of the functional SNP [PROGINS (rs1042838)] were both significantly higher in patients with idiopathic RPL than in the control subjects (both P values = 0.006). In addition, the C-C haplotype, which consists of rs590688C > G and rs11224592T > C, is associated with a decreased risk of RPL (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

PROGINS polymorphism confers susceptibility to idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss in Taiwanese Han women.

Introduction

Progesterone is the hormone of pregnancy and is required for its initiation. The actions of progesterone are mediated by the progesterone receptor. Polymorphic variants of human progesterone receptor genes have been implicated in implantation failure.

Materials and methods

We, therefore, investigated the prevalence of H770H(C/T genotype), V660L polymorphism and a 306 bp Alu insertion in exon 7 of the progesterone receptor among women with history of recurrent implantation failure to determine whether any of these polymorphisms may serve as a risk factor for implantation failure. DNA was extracted from the buccal swabs obtained from 66 women experiencing implantation failure and 75 fertile control women. PCR amplification of fragments was purified and the DNA sequenced to identify the polymorphism. The frequencies for the three variants were 27% for H770H, 21% for V660L and 0% for the 306 bp Alu insertion in exon 7 among women with implantation failure compared with control women of 25% for H770H and 24%for V660L and 0% for the 306 bp Alu insertion in exon 7.

Discussion

No significant differences in the overall allelic frequency of progesterone receptor variants was seen when women experiencing recurrent implantation failure were compared with control women.

Conclusion

We conclude that the H770H and V660L and PROGINS progesterone receptor polymorphisms are not markers that can identify women at risk for recurrent implantation after IVF/ET.

Background

Recent evidence suggests a role for progesterone in breast cancer development and tumorigenesis. Progesterone exerts its effect on target cells by interacting with its receptor; thus, genetic variations, which might cause alterations in the biological function in the progesterone receptor (PGR), can potentially contribute to an individual's susceptibility to breast cancer. It has been reported that the PROGINS allele, which is in complete linkage disequilibrium with a missense substitution in exon 4 (G/T, valine→leucine, at codon 660), is associated with a decreased risk for breast cancer.

Methods

Using a nested case-control study design within the Nurses' Health Study cohort, we genotyped 1252 cases and 1660 matched controls with the use of the Taqman assay.

Results

We did not observe any association of breast cancer risk with carrying the G/T (Val660→Leu) polymorphism (odds ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval 0.93–1.30). In addition, we did not observe an interaction between this allele and menopausal status and family history of breast cancer as reported previously.

Conclusion

Overall, our study does not support an association between the Val660→Leu PROGINS polymorphism and breast cancer risk.

BACKGROUND:

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G belongs to the nonclassical Class I major histocompatibility complex, and is predominantly and specifically found on the extravillous cytotrophoblast cells of the placenta. HLA-G has been postulated as an important immunotolerant molecule in maintaining successful pregnancy and maternal tolerance of the semiallogenic fetus. Recent reports indicate that the 14-bp deletion/insertion polymorphism in exon 8 of the 3’UTR region of the HLA-G gene influences the HLA-G mRNA stability and isoform splicing patterns, thus modulating the levels of HLA-G expression.

AIM:

The aim was to study the 14-bp deletion/insertion polymorphism in exon 8 of the 3’UTR region of the HLA-G gene.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 50 women with unexplained three or more recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSAs) and 41 normal healthy control women who have had normal pregnancies and were genotyped for the 14-bp deletion/insertion polymorphism were genotyped for the 14-bp deletion/insertion polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction for exon 8-specific primers

RESULTS:

It was found that the 14-bp allele deletion frequency was lower in patients (67%) versus controls (73%), while 14-bp allele insertion was higher among patients (33%) versus controls (9%). Similarly, the homozygous deletion halotype was higher among the controls (80.48%); the heterozygous insertion deletion haplotype (34%) and homozygous insertion haplotype (16%) were higher in RSA patients. The HLA haplotype HLA A*02:11_B*40:06:01:01 was increased among RSA women compared to controls.

CONCLUSION:

Our results suggest that 14-bp deletion/insertion polymorphisms might have importance in the outcome of pregnancy and the 14-bp deletion polymorphism in exon 8 of the HLA-G gene may be important from an evolutionary perspective of successful pregnancy.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of CAG repeat polymorphism and X-chromosome Inactivation (XCI) pattern in Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions among Indian women which has not been hitherto explored. 117 RSA cases and 224 Controls were included in the study. Cases were recruited from two different hospitals - Lakshmi Fertility Clinic, Nellore and Fernandez Maternity Hospital, Hyderabad. Controls were roughly matched for age, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The CAG repeats of the Androgen Receptor gene were genotyped using a PCR-based assay and were analysed using the GeneMapper software to determine the CAG repeat length. XCI analysis was also carried out to assess the inactivation percentages. RSA cases had a significantly greater frequency of allele sizes in the polymorphic range above 19 repeats (p = 0.006), which is the median value of the controls, and in the biallelic mean range above 21 repeats (p = 0.002). We found no evidence of abnormal incidence of skewed X-inactivation. We conclude that longer CAG repeat lengths are associated with increased odds for RSA with statistical power estimated to be ∼90%.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) defines as two or more consecutive losses at ≤20 weeks of gestation and affects an estimated 1 of every 100 couples wishing to have children. However, it remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Recent reports observed a significant association between highly skewed X chromosome and RSA, supporting that X chromosome inactivation might be an important and previously unknown cause of RSA. X-inactivation pattern, using polymeric X-linked women with idiopathic RSA and 80 control subjects with a single successful pregnancy and no history of spontaneous abortion. The ratio of heterozygotes was 68.2% (45/66) in women with RSA and 67.5% (54/80) in control group. Among 45 informative RSA cases, only 1 (2.2%) woman showed extreme skewed X inactivation (≥90%) and 4 (8.9%) had mild skewed inactivation (≥85%). In 54 heterozygous control subjects, 5 (9.3%) women showed extreme skewed X inactivation and 7 (13.0%) had mild one. The frequency of skewed X inactivation between RSA patients and control group was not significantly different (p>0.05). This finding suggests that skewed X chromosome be not associated with unexplained RSA patients.

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to determine the frequency of the PROGINS polymorphism in women with endometriosis‐associated infertility, in infertile women without endometriosis and in controls.

INTRODUCTION:

The human progesterone receptor gene has two isoforms that modulate the biological action of progesterone: isoform A, which is capable of inhibiting the activation of the estrogen receptors, and isoform B, which has the capacity to activate the estrogen receptors. Several polymorphisms have been described for this gene, among which one stands out: a polymorphism named PROGINS, which has been speculated to be related to the genesis of endometriosis by several studies with conflicting results.

METHODS:

This was a prospective study that included 148 patients with endometriosis‐associated infertility, 50 idiopathic infertile patients and 179 fertile women as controls. The PROGINS polymorphism was studied by PCR.

RESULTS:

Genotypes P1P1, P1P2 and P2P2 (P2 representing the PROGINS polymorphism) of the progesterone receptor gene presented frequencies of 93.9%, 5.4% and 0.7%, respectively, in the women with endometriosis‐associated infertility (p = 0.2101, OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.24‐1.09); 94.4%, 4.2% and 1.4%, respectively, in the patients with minimal/mild endometriosis (p = 0.2725, OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.20‐1.43); 93.5%, 6.5% and 0%, respectively, among the patients with moderate/severe endometriosis (p = 0.3679, OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.18‐1.31); 86.0%, 14.0% and 0%, respectively, in idiopathic infertile women (p = 0.8146, OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.46‐2.63); and 88.3%, 10.6% and 1.1%, respectively, in the control group.

CONCLUSION:

The data suggest that PROGINS is not related either to endometriosis‐associated infertility or to idiopathic infertility in the population studied.

Background

Women with PCOS have been reported to be at increased risk of a number of gynaecological neoplasias, including endometrial, breast, and ovarian cancer. Studies of the possible association of genetic variation in progesterone receptor polymorphism with risk of ovarian and breast cancer have concentrated on a variant known as PROGINS.

Methods

Ninety-five young women with PCOS and 99 healthy control women were included in our study. All subjects underwent venous blood drawing for complete hormonal assays, lipid profile, glucose, insulin and PROGINS polymorphism genetic study.

Results

In PROGINS polymorphism results; in both control and the patient groups T1/T1 has been detected in high levels. But for genotype (p = 0.178) and allele (p = 0.555) frequencies both of the groups give similar results. Statistically significant difference has been detected on serum FSH levels for T1/T1 genotype according to T2/T2 genotype.

Conclusion

No relation has been detected between the inflammatory and oxidative stress factors, and PROGINS polymorphism alleles. This may be because the PCOS patients are young and their BMI means are normal and their CIMT and oxidative stress markers are like healthy women.

BACKGROUND:

Recurrent spontaneous pregnancy (RSA) is defined as a sequence of three or more consecutive spontaneous abortions. One of the major causes of RSA is immunological where alloimmune antibodies develop towards human leucocyte antigen (HLA) antigens. Earlier research had suggested that anti-HLA antibodies are produced in normal women; studies have been reported that normal pregnant women develop anti-HLA antibodies, mostly after 20–28 weeks of gestation.

AIM:

To evaluate the role of anti-HLA antibodies in RSA patients

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 80 randomly selected couples with unexplained three or more RSA and control group of 50 normal pregnant women were screened for anti-HLA A and B antibodies. The anti-HLA antibodies were analyzed following the standard two-stage NIH microlymphocytotoxicity assay.

RESULTS:

In our study group a high frequency of anti-HLA antibodies among women with RSA (26.25%) was detected compared to normal pregnant women (8.0%). Most of the sera showed HLA-A and HLA-B antibodies which had high titer, up to a dilution of 1: 4096.

CONCLUSION:

This incidence of high anti-HLA antibodies in RSA women during early weeks of gestation may explain the recurrent pregnancy loss.

BACKGROUND:

Rejection of semiallogenic foetus in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) has been postulated to be a consequence of genetic and immunological phenomena.

AIM:

To evaluate the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in RSA in Indian couples.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN:

A case-control study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Eighty-one randomly selected couples with unexplained three or more RSAs and a control group of 97 couples with live birth belonging to the same ethnic background, referred to the Gynaecology Department, KEM Hospital were included in the case-control study. Serological HLA A and B typing was done followed by molecular subtypes, defined using PCR-SSOP technique for HLA A, B, and C in 40 couples and DRB1* and DQB1* in 28 couples which were then compared with appropriate case 46 and 88 controls.

RESULTS:

Serologically A3 (15.43% vs. 4.43%; odds ratio (OR) = 4.34; P = 0.0002) and B17 (25.3% vs. 11.34%; OR = 3.49; P = 0.0001) were increased. Haplotype A1-B17 was significantly increased. Molecular subtyping revealed that A*030102 (11.25% vs. 4.34%; OR = 3.00; P = 0.07), B*5701 (11.25% vs. 1.08%; OR = 13.10; P = 0.003), Cw*120201 (25% vs. 4.34%; OR = 10.50; P = 2.05E-05), HLA DRB1*030101 (17.85% vs. 3.40%; OR = 7.6; P = 0.0001), DRB1*150101 (32.14% vs. 13.63%; OR = 4.8; P = 0.0003), and DQB1*060101 (35.71% vs. 29.34%; OR = 2.3; P = 0.004) were significantly increased in patients. A differential association was noticed when compared with reported world RSA patients.

CONCLUSION:

The HLA alleles A*030101, B*5701, Cw*120201, DRB1*030101, and DRB1*150101 as well as their associated ancestral haplotype may play a significant role in development of RSA in India.

There is evidence that progesterone plays a role in the aetiology of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. Therefore, genes involved in pathways that regulate progesterone may be candidates for susceptibility to this disease. Previous studies have suggested that genetic variants in the progesterone receptor gene (PGR) may be associated with ovarian cancer risk, although results have been inconsistent. We have established an international consortium to pool resources and data from many ovarian cancer case–control studies in an effort to identify variants that influence risk. In this study, three PGR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), for which previous data have suggested they affect ovarian cancer risk, were examined. These were +331 C/T (rs10895068), PROGINS (rs1042838), and a 3′ variant (rs608995). A total of 4788 ovarian cancer cases and 7614 controls from 12 case–control studies were included in this analysis. Unconditional logistic regression was used to model the association between each SNP and ovarian cancer risk and two-sided P-values are reported. Overall, risk of ovarian cancer was not associated with any of the three variants studied. However, in histopathological subtype analyses, we found a statistically significant association between risk of endometrioid ovarian cancer and the PROGINS allele (n=651, OR=1.17, 95% CI=1.01–1.36, P=0.036). We also observed borderline evidence of an association between risk of endometrioid ovarian cancer and the +331C/T variant (n=725 cases; OR=0.80, 95% CI 0.62–1.04, P=0.100). These data suggest that while these three variants in the PGR are not associated with ovarian cancer overall, the PROGINS variant may play a modest role in risk of endometrioid ovarian cancer.

Background: It is well established that estrogen increases endometrial cancer risk, whereas progesterone opposes the estrogen effects. The PROGINS allele of the progesterone receptor (PGR) gene reduces the function of PGR and has been associated with increased risk of the endometrioid type ovarian cancer. We investigated whether genetic variation in PGR is also associated with endometrial cancer risk using a haplotype-based approach. Methods: We pooled data from two endometrial cancer case–control studies that were nested within two prospective cohorts, the Multiethnic Cohort Study and the California Teachers Study. Seventeen haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across four linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks spanning the PGR locus were genotyped in 583 incident cases and 1936 control women. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associated with each haplotype were estimated using conditional logistic regression, stratified by age and ethnicity. Results: Genetic variation in LD block 3 of the PGR locus was associated with endometrial cancer risk (Pglobal test = 0.002), with haplotypes 3C, 3D and 3F associated with 31–34% increased risk. Among whites (383 cases/840 controls), genetic variation in all four blocks was associated with increased endometrial cancer risk (Pglobal test = 0.010, 0.013, 0.005 and 0.020). Haplotypes containing the PROGINS allele and several haplotypes in blocks 1, 3 and 4 were associated with 34–77% increased risk among whites. SNP analyses for whites suggested that rs608995, partially linked to the PROGINS allele (r2 = 0.6), was associated with increased risk (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.06–1.59). Conclusions: Our results suggest that genetic variation in the PGR region is associated with endometrial cancer risk.

Objective

To investigate the association between self-reported endometriosis and the putative functional promoter +331C/T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and the PROGINS allele.

Design

Control subjects from ovarian cancer case-control studies participating in the international Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium. The majority of controls are drawn from population-based studies.

Setting

An international ovarian cancer consortium including studies from the Australia, Europe and the United States,

Patients

5,812 White female controls, of whom 348 had endometriosis, from eight ovarian cancer case-control studies.

Interventions

None.

Main Outcome Measures

Genotypes for the +331C/T SNP and PROGINS allele and a history of endometriosis.

Results

The occurrence of endometriosis was reduced in women carrying one or more copies of the +331 T allele (OR=0.65; 95% CI: 0.43–0.98, p=0.042), whereas there was no association between the PROGINS allele and endometriosis (OR=0.94, 95% CI 0.76, 1.16).

Conclusions

Additional studies of the +331C/T variant are warranted given the current finding and the equivocal results of previous studies. The +331 T allele has been shown to result in a reduced PR-A to PR-B ratio and if the observed association with endometriosis is confirmed it would suggest that this ratio is important for this disease.

Background

Several humoral immune factors are responsible for a successful pregnancy. There are a few studies, which demonstrate the role of antipaternal cytotoxic antibodies (APCA) and mixed lymphocyte reaction blocking factor (MLR-Bf) in the maintenance of pregnancy. However, these factors have not been studied in women with history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). We designed this study to review the role of APCA and MLR-Bf in normal pregnancy as well as in women with a history of RSA.

Methods

One hundred and five women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion were included in the present study. These women were screened for all other known causes of recurrent abortion. We also included 60 normal fertile women, fifteen from each trimester and fifteen women during the post partum period (up to six months). RSA and controls (normal pregnancy) were matched for age, caste, and socio economic background and also for parity. APCA and MLR-Bf were evaluated in all the groups. All women with RSA who conceived during the study period were on follow up.

Results

We have analyzed the status of APCA and MLR-Bf in normal pregnancy (different gestational periods and during post partum), and in women with history of RSA. Our results show that APCA was significantly higher in controls as compared to RSA women. MLR-Bf was directed against the husbands' cells in normal pregnancy and was virtually absent in RSA women.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that there is a significantly low titer of APCA and MLR-Bf in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion. This highlights the role of these factors in the maintenance of successful pregnancy.

In this work, we examined the genetic diversity and evolution of the WAG-2 gene based on new WAG-2 alleles isolated from wheat and its relatives. Only single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and no insertions and deletions (indels) were found in exon sequences of WAG-2 from different species. More SNPs and indels occurred in introns than in exons. For exons, exons+introns and introns, the nucleotide polymorphism π decreased from diploid and tetraploid genotypes to hexaploid genotypes. This finding indicated that the diversity of WAG-2 in diploids was greater than in hexaploids because of the strong selection pressure on the latter. All dn/ds ratios were < 1.0, indicating that WAG-2 belongs to a conserved gene affected by negative selection. Thirty-nine of the 57 particular SNPs and eight of the 10 indels were detected in diploid species. The degree of divergence in intron length among WAG-2 clones and phylogenetic tree topology suggested the existence of three homoeologs in the A, B or D genome of common wheat. Wheat AG-like genes were divided into WAG-1 and WAG-2 clades. The latter clade contained WAG-2, OsMADS3 and ZMM2 genes, indicating functional homoeology among them.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is defined as the loss of three or more consecutive pregnancies during the first trimester of embryonic intrauterine development. This kind of human infertility is frequent among the general population since it affects 1 to 5% of women. In half of the cases the etiology remains unelucidated. In the present study, we used interspecific recombinant congenic mouse strains (IRCS) in the aim to identify genes responsible for embryonic lethality. Applying a cartographic approach using a genotype/phenotype association, we identified a minimal QTL region, of about 6 Mb on chromosome 1, responsible for a high rate of embryonic death (∼30%). Genetic analysis suggests that the observed phenotype is linked to uterine dysfunction. Transcriptomic analysis of the uterine tissue revealed a preferential deregulation of genes of this region compared to the rest of the genome. Some genes from the QTL region are associated with VEGF signaling, mTOR signaling and ubiquitine/proteasome-protein degradation pathways. This work may contribute to elucidate the molecular basis of a multifactorial and complex human disorder as RSA.

Insertion of transposed elements within mammalian genes is thought to be an important contributor to mammalian evolution and speciation. Insertion of transposed elements into introns can lead to their activation as alternatively spliced cassette exons, an event called exonization. Elucidation of the evolutionary constraints that have shaped fixation of transposed elements within human and mouse protein coding genes and subsequent exonization is important for understanding of how the exonization process has affected transcriptome and proteome complexities. Here we show that exonization of transposed elements is biased towards the beginning of the coding sequence in both human and mouse genes. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed that exonization of transposed elements can be population-specific, implying that exonizations may enhance divergence and lead to speciation. SNP density analysis revealed differences between Alu and other transposed elements. Finally, we identified cases of primate-specific Alu elements that depend on RNA editing for their exonization. These results shed light on TE fixation and the exonization process within human and mouse genes.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) may have immunological etiology. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a high dose intravenous immunoglobulin (HIVIg) therapy, in which 20 g of intact type immunoglobulin was infused daily for 5 days during early gestation, for women who had a history of four or more consecutive spontaneous abortions of unexplained etiology. A total of 60 pregnant RSA women underwent HIVIg therapy, and the pregnancy outcome was assessed. The live birth rate was 73.3% (44/60). Fifteen pregnancies ended in spontaneous abortion, and one ended in intrauterine fetal death. In 11 of the 15 spontaneous abortions, fetuses had abnormal chromosome karyotype. When the 11 pregnancies with abnormal chromosome karyotype were excluded, the live birth rate was as high as 89.8% (44/49). The HIVIg therapy may be effective for severe cases of unexplained RSA.

We examined six newly identified polymorphisms in the δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to determine if these SNPs could modify the relationship between blood lead (PbB) and some renal parameters. This is a cross-sectional study of 276 lead-exposed workers in Vietnam. All workers were measured for PbB, urinary retinol-binding protein (URBP), urinary α1-microglobulin (Uα1m), urinary β2-microglobulin (Uβ2m), urinary N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG), urinary aminolevulinic acid (ALAU), serum α1-microglobulin (Sα1m), serum β2-microglobulin (Sβ2m), and urinary albumin (Ualb). The six SNPs were Msp and Rsa in exon 4, Rsa39488 in exon 5, HpyIV and HpyCH4 in intron 6, and Sau3A in intron 12. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with interaction of PbB × SNPs were applied to examine modifying effect of the SNPs on the association of renal parameters and PbB, adjusting for potential confounders of age, gender, body mass index, and exposure duration. HpyCH4 was found to be associated with certain renal parameters. For HpyCH4 1-1, an increase of 1 μg/dL PbB caused an increase of 1.042 mg/g creatinine (Cr) Uα1m, 1.069 mg/g Cr Uβ2m, 1.038 mg/g Cr URBP, and 1.033 mg/g Cr Ualb, whereas in HpyCH4 1-2, an increase of 1 μg/dL PbB resulted in an increase of only 1.009 mg/g Cr Uα1m, 1.012 mg/g Cr Uβ2m, 1.009 mg/g Cr URBP, and 1.007 mg/g Cr Ualb. HpyCH4 SNP appeared to modify the lead toxicity to kidney with wild-type allele being more susceptible than variants. The mechanism for this effect is not clear. Further studies are needed to confirm this observation.

Background:

An autoimmune cause and related immunological alterations resulting in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) have been suggested in patients with unknown etiology.

Materials and Methods:

This study evaluated the autoantibody profile and other immunological parameters among RSA patients and normal pregnant women from Mumbai western India. Fifty RSA patients with unknown cause and greater than three consecutive abortions along with 50 normal pregnant women were studied for various auto antibodies such as ANA, anti-dsDNA, ANCA, AECA, 2 micro globulin, anti-HLA antibodies and ACLA using immunofluorescence microlymphocytotoxicity and ELISA. Immunological parameters such as HLA class I monoclonal antibody expression, CD3 (T cell), CD19 (B cell), and CD56 (NK cell) were estimated by flow cytometry.

Results:

The results revealed 34% positivity of all auto antibodies tested among patients. ANA(12%), ANCA (20%), AECA (24%), ACLA (8%), anti-dsDNA(0%), β2 microglobulin (14%), and anti-HLA antibodies(10%) among RSA patients were identified. An increased expression of HLA class I specific monoclonal antibody (10%) with HLA A3 (16%) specificity were found to correlate with shared HLA alleles among the RSA couples. Among normal pregnant (control) group ANA (2%), ANCA (2%), AECA (3%), ACLA (4%) and increased expression of CD56 with reduced HLA class I monoclonal were observed.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest a possible role of various autoantibodies along with the related immunological parameters underlying RSA.

Introduction. Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is a significant obstetrical complication that may occur during pregnancy. Various studies in recent years have indicated that two common mutations (C677T and A1298C) of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are risk factor for RSA. This study was carried out to determine the influence of (C677T and A1298C) of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutations with RSA. Materials and Methods. A total of 139 women were included in this study: 89 women with two or more consecutive miscarriages and 50 healthy controls. Total genomic DNA was isolated from blood leukocytes. To determine the frequency of the two common C677T and A1298C MTHFR gene mutations in the patients and controls, we used two methods, amplification refractory mutation system-PCR and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results. There is no significant difference in the prevalence of 677T/T genotype among women with RSA and healthy controls (P = 0.285). Also no statistically significant difference in the frequency of A1298C MTHFR gene mutation was detected between the two groups (P = 0.175 ). Conclusion. In conclusion, the results indicate that the Amplification Refractory Mutation System-PCR method was in complete concordance with the results obtained by standard PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The results also show no significant difference in MTHFR C677T/A1298C genotype distribution among the two groups; therefore, further studies on larger population and other genetic variants to better understand the pathobiology of RSA are needed.

Background

A defect in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function has been suggested to contribute to susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objective

To investigate polymorphisms of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene and determine any associations with RA.

Methods

Three GR polymorphisms that tag 95% of all haplotypes across the GR gene were genotyped. These are an intron B Bcl1 polymorphism, a ttg insertion/deletion within intron F (rs2307674) and the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) lying in the 3′ untranslated region of exon 9b (rs6198). The dye terminator-based SNaPshot method or size resolution by capillary electrophoresis was performed. The study population comprised 198 UK Caucasian RA cases and 393 ethnically matched controls.

Results

No significant single point or haplotypic associations were found for GR polymorphisms with RA susceptibility. Furthermore, no evidence for GR polymorphisms with aspects of RA severity was seen.

Conclusion

In this study of the most comprehensive coverage of GR polymorphisms with RA, no significant contributing role for GR polymorphisms with RA was found.

Although respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a commonly quantified physiological variable, the methods for quantification are not consistent. This manuscript questions the assumption that respiration frequency needs to be manipulated or monitored to generate an accurate measure of RSA amplitude. A review of recent papers is presented that contrast RSA amplitude with measures that use respiratory parameters to adjust RSA amplitude. In addition, data from two studies are presented to evaluate empirically both the relation between RSA amplitude and respiration frequency and the covariation between RSA frequency and respiration frequency. The literature review demonstrates similar findings between both classes of measures. The first study demonstrates, during spontaneous breathing without task demands, that there is no relation between respiration frequency and RSA amplitude and that respiration frequency can be accurately derived from the heart period spectrum (i.e., frequency of RSA). The second study demonstrates that respiration frequency is unaffected by atropine dose, a manipulation that systematically mediates the amplitude of RSA, and that the tight linkage between the RSA frequency and respiration frequency is unaffected by atropine. The research shows that the amplitude of RSA is not affected by respiration frequency under either baseline conditions or vagal manipulation via atropine injection. Respiration frequency is therefore unlikely to be a concern under these conditions. Research examining conditions that produce (causal) deviations from the intrinsic relation between respiratory parameters and the amplitude of RSA combined with appropriate statistical procedures for understanding these deviations are necessary.

Maternal tolerance of the fetal hemiallograft suggests that immunomodulation occurs during gestation. Therefore, recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) may represent a failure of the immune changes that maintain pregnancy. We hypothesized that fertile women but not women with RSA may lose their immune responses to recall antigens when pregnant. This phenomenon has been seen in immunosuppressed transplant recipients and is associated with graft survival. Therefore, we evaluated proliferative responses to recall antigens in four groups of women: group 1, nonpregnant fertile women with no history of pregnancy loss and at least one prior healthy pregnancy, n = 13; group 2, nonpregnant women with a history of three or more spontaneous abortions, n = 28; group 3, healthy pregnant women between 6 and 9 wk of gestation without a history of prior pregnancy loss, n = 15; and group 4, pregnant women between 6 and 9 wk of gestation, with a history of RSA, n = 22. Proliferative responses of peripheral blood leukocytes to the recall antigens influenza and tetanus, alloantigens, and phytohemagglutinin were determined prospectively. Positive responses (stimulation index > 3) to recall antigens (a response to either influenza or tetanus was considered positive) were as follows: group 1 (nonpregnant fertile women), 11/13 (85%); group 2 (nonpregnant RSA women), 24/28 (86%); group 3 (pregnant fertile women), 4/15 (27%) (P