Research Information System
Molecular Biology Reports, vol.52, no.1, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a multifactorial disorder, with unexplained causes in 50% of cases, and immune system involvement is suspected. The decidua, a maternal–fetal interface, requires immune cells such as B cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells for a healthy pregnancy. OX40L, expressed in these cells, plays a crucial immune regulatory role. Variations in OX40L (rs1234314 and rs844648) have not yet been studied in RPL patients. Objective: This study aims to investigate the association of these polymorphisms (rs1234314 and rs844648) with RPL in a Turkish population sample and is the first to do so in this regard. Methods: A genetic case–control study was conducted with 195 women who had a history of two or more miscarriages. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared between the RPL group and 135 control women. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed in allele frequencies for rs1234314 and rs844648 between the RPL and control populations. However, AA carriers of the rs844648 polymorphism were associated with a reduced risk of recurrent pregnancy loss in the recessive model (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.11–3.89, p = 0.02). Conclusion: This study is the first to examine the genetic association of rs1234314 and rs844648 SNPs of OX40L with RPL in a Turkish population. The significant association of the rs844648 AA genotype with a decreased risk of RPL suggests that this variant may play an important role as a protective factor against RPL, potentially through mechanisms related to immune regulation.