Recent Advances in Immunotherapeutic Approaches for Recurrent Reproductive Failure

Abstract

Human reproduction is an insufficient process, disturbed by various factors, such as immunologic aberrations of mother. Immunologic abnormalities, including cellular and humoral immunity imbalance, cause dysregulated immune responses against embryo, fetus, and associated components and lack of maternal immunotolerance, which compromise the maintenance of pregnancy. Therefore, evaluation of immunologic parameters, including cellular and humoral immunity assessment (T and B lymphocyte, T helper subtypes, NK cells, cytokines, and autoantibodies), especially in women with a history of pregnancy loss or implantation failure, would help clinicians to manage the disorder and prevent next unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. Moreover, several immunomodulatory approaches have been introduced to modulate the abnormal immunologic responses in patients who experience reproduction failure, especially those diagnosed with immunologic basis. Anticoagulants, corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, immunosuppressive medications used in inhibition of graft rejection, such as calcineurin inhibitors, recombinant cytokines, and cell therapy approaches, are among these modalities. Here, we discuss the proposed mechanisms of immunologic abnormalities involved in the etiopathogenesis of reproduction disorders, besides the suggested immunologic tests and immunotherapeutic approaches which may be helpful in management of these disorders.