Abstract:  Objective · To discuss the relationship between unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) and T follicular helper (Tfh) cell subtypes.  Methods · Twenty-eight normal early pregnancy women, who had undergone induced abortion, were taken as control, and 28 patients with URSA were enrolled in the abortion group. The mononuclear cells in peripheral blood and decidual tissues were separated in the two groups, and CXCR3+CCR6- Tfh cells, CXCR3-CCR6- Tfh cells, CXCR3-CCR6+ Tfh cells and B cells were tested by flow cytometry.  Results · The decidual CXCR3CCR6- Tfh cells significantly increased in the abortion group compared with control group (P=0.015). And there was a strong association between the decidual CXCR3-CCR6- Tfh cells and B cells in URSA patients (R2=0.779, P=0.025).  Conclusion · The up-regulation of decidual CXCR3-CCR6- Tfh cells in early pregnancy women may be related with the occurrence of URSA.

Key words:  unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion, T follicular helper, CXCR3, CCR6, decidua, flow cytometry