Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan that can cross t he placenta of the infected mother and causes sever e fetal
damage or abortion. This study aimed to investigate the role of two cytokines and sex hormones in the T. gondiiinduced
abortion. A total of 135 placentas from spontaneously aborted women and 13 from women with induced
abortion were underwent immunohistochemical test for T. gondii antigen. Out of the 135 women, 34 gave positive
result. Accordingly, the study population were divided into three groups: aborted women positive for T. gondii,
aborted women negative for T. gondii, and women with induced abortion. TNF-α and IL-6 intensity in placental
sections were determined by IHC. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to estimate serum level of
progesterone and estradiol. Aborted women positive for T. gondii had significantly higher percentage of
trophoblasts expressing TNF-α and IL-6 than both aborted women negative for T. gondii and women with induced
abortion. Whereas, women with induced abortion demonstrated higher serum level of estradiol and proges terone
than aborted women positive or negative for T. gondii.
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december/2014
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