Natural Killer Cells Increase Risk of Miscarriage

Natural Killer Cells Increase Risk of Miscarriage

More women are experiencing miscarriages and one of the potential reasons is the acquired natural killer cells. Natural killer cells are known to be protectors against various ailments like cancer. However, they are also responsible for the inability to achieve an ongoing pregnancy.

These natural killer cells search and destroy harmful cells from our bodies and once they detect harmful cells, they bind each other and produce a chemical known as cytotoxic chemical to kill or destroy unwanted cells. The cytotoxic chemical when excreted, it creates holes in the unwanted cell and eventually the harmful cells ultimately burst.

How is this connected to pregnancy? According to experts, though the role of killer cells is not clear, it is believed that they promote placental and trophoblastic growth. In some pregnant women, natural killer cells overreact and consider the developing embryo as an invader. Thus, the natural killer cells increase in number then attaches to the embryo and destroy it. However, with proper diagnosis and treatment, pregnant women can successfully carry a full-term pregnancy.

In treating natural killer cells, treatment options applicable are, high dose steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (VIg) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF) blocking agents.

Posted by George Daniels on Monday November 21 2011, 7:39 AM EDT. Ref: Dr Merwyn Jacobson. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0