New treatment for boosting immune tolerance offers hope for early pregnancy loss
A new study from the Robinson Research Institute, 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide, is offering new hope for people who have experienced early pregnancy loss.
In a pre-clinical animal study, published in the听, Professor Sarah Robertson and team found a potential protection against pregnancy loss, a common condition affecting natural conception and women undergoing IVF treatments.
The study focused on a specialised immune cell subset called regulatory T cells (Treg cells), which are essential for preparing the uterus for receptive embryo implantation.
鈥淩epeated losses can be devastating and exert a major impact on women, their partners, and society more broadly. An imbalance in the female immune response is implicated in many cases,鈥 said Professor Robertson.
Professor Robertson said previous studies have found low numbers of Treg cells in women who experienced early pregnancy loss, and that they often exhibit changes that lead Treg cells to have functional problems that are reminiscent of autoimmune diseases.
鈥淭his can impair the implantation process and suppress development of the early placenta,鈥 she said.
鈥淭herefore, Treg cells provide an attractive target for interventions to improve maternal immune tolerance and protect against pregnancy disorders caused by immune imbalance in at-risk women.
鈥淥ur most recent study showed a novel immune intervention called interleukin-2 offers potent protection against pregnancy loss and allows healthy offspring to be born.
鈥淚nterleukin-2 has been developed for use in autoimmune conditions with a specific formulation to ensure its effects are targeted directly to the Treg cells.
鈥淲hen used at a low dose and formulated correctly, the IL-2 shows particular benefit for stimulating expansion of Treg cell populations in the uterus.鈥
Professor Robertson said while the study demonstrates the potential of targeting Treg cells and provides pivotal evidence to justify human studies, it is not yet ready for clinical use.
鈥淚t will be important to undertake clinical trials to assemble evidence of safety and benefit in humans before the treatment can be recommended,鈥 she said.Professor Sarah Robertson
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