Immunological insights into recurrent spontaneous abortions: The role of GATA3 and cytokine expression in maternal and placental tissues

Abstract

Objectives: Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is the successive loss of pregnancy experienced by 1-2% of women with clinically recognized pregnancies. The role of cytokines and their regulators in RSA has gained significant attention in recent years. The GATA3 transcription factor has significant implications for maternal-foetal health outcome by modulating the immune T-cell population to T helper cell subsets that produce the proinflammatory (IFNγ) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL4) required for pregnancy maintenance. Methods: The study involved 65 case-women with RSA and 70 control-women without a history of RSA. IL-4, IFNγ, and GATA3 transcription factor levels were analysed in maternal serum and placental tissues. Correlation analysis was performed for GATA3 expression and cytokine levels, and the results were tested for statistical significance. Results: The mRNA expression of the GATA3 transcription factor was significantly reduced in both the maternal blood and placental tissues of the RSA group compared to the control group undergoing medical termination (p ≤ 0.05*). Additionally, compared to the control group, the levels of the Th1 cytokine IFN-γ were significantly elevated (11034 pg/ ml & 87.4735 pg/g), while the levels of the Th2 cytokine IL4 were significantly decreased (48.9832 pg/ml & 6320 pg/g) in RSA mother and their placenta samples respectively. Moreover, cytokine levels in the RSA group showed a significant correlation with GATA3 expression. Conclusion: The study suggests that altered GATA3 levels and an increased IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio may increase the risk of recurrent spontaneous abortions in Telangana women. Keywords: GATA3 transcription factor, IFNγ, IL4, maternal-foetal immunology, recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), TH1/TH2