The relationship between interferon gamma gene expression and cytomegalovirus infection in women at risk of spontaneous abortion in Dhi Qar Governorate

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the mechanism of cytokines, more importantly interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), in pregnant women exposed to cytomegalovirus (CMV) with recurrent spontaneous miscarriages (RSM). Thus, 38 blood samples from the above women were collected and compared with 14 samples from healthy participants. Half of the sample volume was transferred to an EDTA tube (2 mL) and the rest to a gel tube (3 mL) for centrifugation to separate serum. The age of the subjects ranged from 15 to 47 years. Again, the IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in all serum samples with ELISA. The IFN-γ samples were tested by molecular methods to determine the gene expression of interleukin-γ in women with RSM in comparison with controls. ELISA results: one individual (2.63%) tested positive for anti-HCMV IgM antibodies, 33 women (86.84%) tested positive for anti-HCMV IgG antibodies, and four women (10.52%) were found to be positive for both IgM and IgG antibodies. Notably, none of the women in the study group tested negative for both antibodies. The gene for IFN-γ was assessed by real-time PCR analysis of DNA extracted from the IFN-γ samples; expression of this in peripheral blood MCs was decreased in women with RSM compared to controls. This lower IFN-γ expression suggests a less effective antiviral immunity capable of confining the spread of the virus within the host.