Microbiota and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL); More than a Simple Connection

• Published in: Microorganisms (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 8; p. 1641
• Main Authors: Garmendia, Jenny Valentina, De Sanctis, Claudia Valentina, Hajdúch, Marián, De Sanctis, Juan Bautista
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.08.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: B cells; Bacteria; Cell activation; Clinical trials; Dietary supplements; dysbiosis; Endometrium; Genetic aspects; Gram-negative bacteria; Helper cells; Human papillomavirus; Immune system; In vitro fertilization; Infections; Inflammation; Inflammatory response; Intestinal microflora; Lactobacillus crispatus; Lipopolysaccharides; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Menstruation; Metabolic rate; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbiota; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Microorganisms; Mimicry; Miscarriage; Modulation; Mycosis; Pathogens; Physiology; Pregnancy; probiotic supplementation; Probiotics; Progesterone; recurrent implantation failure (RIF); recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL); Review; Subpopulations; uterine microbiota; Vagina; vaginal microbiota; Viral infections; Womens health; bacterial transplantation; vaginal microbiota; uterine microbiota; probiotic supplementation; recurrent implantation failure (RIF); recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL); dysbiosis
• ISSN: 2076-2607; 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12081641

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) affects 1-2% of women, and its triggering factors are unclear. Several studies have shown that the vaginal, endometrial, and gut microbiota may play a role in RPL. A decrease in the quantity of in local microbiota has been associated with an increase in local (vaginal and endometrial) inflammatory response and immune cell activation that leads to pregnancy loss. The inflammatory response may be triggered by gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), viral infections, mycosis, or atypia (tumor growth). Bacterial structures and metabolites produced by microbiota could be involved in immune cell modulation and may be responsible for immune cell activation and molecular mimicry. Gut microbiota metabolic products may increase the amount of circulating pro-inflammatory lymphocytes, which, in turn, will migrate into vaginal or endometrial tissues. Local pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th17 subpopulations and a decrease in local Treg and tolerogenic NK cells are accountable for the increase in pregnancy loss. Local microbiota may modulate the local inflammatory response, increasing pregnancy success. Analyzing local and gut microbiota may be necessary to characterize some RPL patients. Although oral supplementation of probiotics has not been shown to modify vaginal or endometrial microbiota, the metabolites produced by it may benefit patients. transplantation into the vagina may enhance the required immune tolerogenic response to achieve a normal pregnancy. The effect of hormone stimulation and progesterone to maintain early pregnancy on microbiota has not been adequately studied, and more research is needed in this area. Well-designed clinical trials are required to ascertain the benefit of microbiota modulation in RPL.