Comparative multiplex analysis of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in follicular fluid of normoresponder women undergoing ovum donation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist versus gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocols

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Conflicting results were yielded about the superiority of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) versus gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-ant) protocols used in ovarian stimulation in in vitro fertilization (IVF) set-up. Reports also indicate that any single specific individual marker in follicular fluid collected at the time of oocyte retrieval bears inconclusive value as a predictor of oocyte quality.AIMS:Simultaneous analyses of large numbers of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in ovarian follicular fluid and perifollicular vascularity in both protocols for ovarian stimulation in IVF program to address the above mentioned lacunae.SETTINGS AND DESIGNS:Normoresponder women (n = 45) were subjected to either GnRH-a (Group 1; n = 23) or GnRH-ant (Group 2; n = 22) for ovarian stimulation in IVF clinics.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The fluid samples of dominant follicles collected at oocyte retrieval from women in Group 1 (GnRH-a; n = 20) and Group 2 (GnRH-ant; n = 16) were used for simultaneous quantitative assays of 48 cytokines. Perifollicular vascularity was assessed by Doppler hemodynamics to assess the ovarian vascular response in all participants in Groups 1 and 2.RESULTS:Despite demographic and reproductive parameters studied remained comparable, higher follicular fluid concentration of interleukins, IL-3 (P < 0.01), IL12p70 (P < 0.05) and vascular endothelial growth factor (P < 0.01), P4 (P < 0.05) and pulsatility index (P < 0.04) along with a lower number of oocytes in metaphase II stage (P < 0.03) was observed in Group 2 compared with Group 1. GnRH-a protocol appeared to be superior to GnRH-ant protocol for ovarian stimulation in normoresponder women.

Cationic antimicrobial peptide, magainin down-regulates secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by early placental cytotrophoblasts

“…The details of 48 cytokines, chemokines and growth factors have been reported elsewhere [ 13 , 14 ] and are shown in Additional file 1 : Table S1. Cell culture supernatants were assessed by quantitative cytokine assays using a Bioplex™ Pro-human cytokine 27-plex panel and a cytokine 21-plex panel based on xMAP technology (Bio-Rad Laboratory, Hercules, CA, USA) according to the pre-optimised protocol as described earlier [ 13 , 14 ]. Briefly, antibody–conjugated beads were added to individual wells of a 96-well filter plate and adhered using vacuum filtration.…”

“…In the present study, we proposed to examine the effect of application of a synthetic CAMP on the secreted cytokine profiles of human early placental villous cytotrophoblasts in vitro. In order to fulfill the projected objective of the study, isolated villous cytotrophoblasts from human placental villi collected during 8–9 weeks of gestation were maintained in primary culture and exposed to different doses of AMA to simultaneously examine a panel of forty-eight (48) cytokines in conditioned medium using multiplex immunoassays technique [ 13 , 14 ]. Finally, we have examined the steady state transcript levels of the candidate cyto/chemokines, the concentrations of which were affected by AMA to examine the probable level of action of AMA on the isolated cytotrophoblasts.…”

Сytokins in the regulation of ovarian folliculogenesis (a review)

“…Отрицательные исходы ЭКО чаще регистрировались у женщин с высоким содержанием IL-1β, MIP-1α и RANTES в ФЖ, чем у пациенток с позитивным исходом и наступлением последующей беременности [44]. Аналогичные данные получены при исследовании содержания IL-4 и IL-12 в ФЖ, высокий уровень которых связан со сниженной оплодотворяющей способностью ооцитов, низким процентом зрелых ооцитов, плохим качеством эмбрионов и отрицательным исходом ЭКО [7,45,46]. Повышение уровня IFN-γ ингибирует овуляцию и вызывает ранние потери беременности [7].…”

“…Также показано, что высокий уровень IL-18 положительно коррелирует с количеством ооцитов [7] и может рассматриваться как прогностический маркер эффективности ЭКО [47]. Другие авторы [7,45,46] связывают высокую концентрацию IL-8 и IL-18 с идиопатическим бесплодием и отрицательным исходом ЭКО. Негативный эффект IL-8 и IL-18 связан с возникновением серьезного осложнения цикла ЭКО -синдромом гиперстимуляции яичников [46,48].…”

“…Другие авторы [7,45,46] связывают высокую концентрацию IL-8 и IL-18 с идиопатическим бесплодием и отрицательным исходом ЭКО. Негативный эффект IL-8 и IL-18 связан с возникновением серьезного осложнения цикла ЭКО -синдромом гиперстимуляции яичников [46,48]. Развитие синдрома гиперстимуляции яичников также ассоциировано с повышенным содержанием VEGF в ФЖ [18].…”