Expression of Lymphtoxin - ? and their Receptor among Aborted Women Infected with Human Cytomegalovirus

Background Human cytomegalovirus infection is significant health problems in pregnant women around the world and considered major causes of morbidity in the fetus and neonate placenta. Objectives To assess the frequency of human cytomegalovirus infections in product of conceptus tissues of pregnant women with spontaneous abortion in relation to expression of lymphotoxin alpha and their receptor. Patients and methods Fifty product of conceptus tissues samples were collected from pregnant women who referred due to a spontaneous abortion attended at Al-Batool Teaching Hospital for Maternity and Children in Baqubah City, Iraq during the period from November 2013 till April 2014. Some characteristics such as age, gestational age, last history of abortion and gravity were recorded. The human cytomegalovirus antigen, lymphotoxin alpha and lymphotoxin beta receptor were detected by immunohistochemistry technique (IHC). Result Eighteen out of 50 (36 %) in product of conceptus tissues of aborted women cases were positive for human cytomegalovirus, but statistical analysis showed insignificant difference at Pgreater than0.05. The expressions of lymphotoxin and receptor TLRs were detected in most aborted women infected with human cytomegalovirus, 23 (46 %) and 16 (32 %) respectively. Multiple variables were evaluated, the positive cases of lymphotoxin alpha and lymphotoxin beta receptor showed that 19 about (82.60 %) and 14 about (87.5 %) respectively were aborted in the first trimester, most women had third and fourth time abortion respectivelly. Majority of women were multiparous 12 (52.17 %) and 10 (62.50 %) respectively. Non-significant difference was noticed with different parameters. difference. Conclusion Lymphotoxin and their receptor TLRs may play an important role in recurrent abortions with human cytomegalovirus, further delineation of the molecular mechanisms controlling by lymphotoxin to designing strategies for targeted antiviral therapies