Introduction: Immunological processes play an important role in recurrent spontaneous abortion(RSA). According to studies, T lymphocytes and natural killer cells(NK cells) are two effective cell groups in RSA. The aim of this study was to study the percentage and absolute number of natural killer(NK) cells in women with RSA of unknown etiology. Methods: A total of 24 women with history of recurrent abortions of unknown etiology were studied and their peripheral blood NK cell counts were compared with a group of fertile patients. Lymphocytes from peripheral blood were isolated by ficoll paque density centrifugation. Lymphocytes were stained using anti CD56, (FITC)-anti CD16 and CYQ-CD3 monoclonal antibodies for identification of NK cells. Anti CD56 and(FITC)-anti CD69 were used for detection of activated NK cells. BD FACS caliber flow cytometry was used for data analysis. Results: On the basis of the obtained results, absolute number of CD16+56+ cells were significantly higher in Recurrent spontaneous abortion(RSA)as compared to the control group(P= 0.43). The absolute number of CD16+56 bright cells was also high in RSA(P=0.00). There was no significant difference in CD16+56dim cell count between RSA and control group(P= 0.08). In RSA, the absolute number of CD69+ cells was significantly high(P=0.02). Results also showed a significant increase in the absolute number of CD56+/CD69+ cells in RSA (P=0.04). Conclusion: The higher percentage of NK cells in peripheral blood of RSA patients as compared to the control group may indicate the same increase in number and cytotoxicity of uterine NK cells.

Keywords: Breast Neoplasms; Polymorphism, Genetic; Proto- Oncogene Proteins C-mdm2

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