Interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and growth hormone levels in human follicular fluid

Interleukin-1 increases cyclooxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 production in human granulosa-lutein cell via nuclear factor kappa B/P65 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathways

A multitude of cytokines have been reported to participate in the folliculogenesis process in female. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), belonging to interleukin family, is originally identified as an important immune factor involved in inflammation response. Besides the immunity system, IL-1 is also expressed in reproductive system. However, the role of IL-1 in regulating ovarian follicle function remains to be elucidated. In the current study, using the primary human granulosa-lutein (hGL) and immortalized human granulosa-like tumor cell line (KGN) models, we demonstrated that both IL-1α and IL-1β increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production via upregulating its cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme COX-2 expression in human granulosa cells. Mechanistically, IL-1α and IL-1β treatment activated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Using the specific siRNA to knock down endogenous gene expression, we found that the inhibition of p65 expression abolished IL-1α and IL-1β-induced upregulation of COX-2 expression whereas knockdown of p50 and p52 had no effect. Moreover, our results also showed that IL-1α and IL-1β promoted the nuclear translocation of p65. ChIP assay demonstrated the transcriptional regulation of p65 on COX-2 expression. Additionally, we also found that IL-1α and IL-1β could activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway. The inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling pathway activation reversed IL-1α and IL-1β-induced upregulation of COX-2 expression. Our findings shed light on the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which IL-1 modulates the COX-2 expression through NF-κB/P65 and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in human granulosa cells.

A Mixture Reflecting Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Profiles Detected in Human Follicular Fluid Significantly Affects Steroidogenesis and Induces Oxidative Stress in a Female Human Granulosa Cell Line

Brominated flame retardants are incorporated into consumer products to prevent flame propagation. These compounds leach into the domestic environment, resulting in chronic exposure. Pregnancy failure is associated with high levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a major class of brominated flame retardants, in human follicular fluid, raising serious questions regarding their impact on female fertility. Our goal was to elucidate the effects of a mixture of PBDEs, similar to the profile found in human follicular fluid, on an immortalized human granulosa cell line, the KGN cell line. We showed that cell viability was altered and oxidative stress was induced as reflected by increased reactive oxygen species formation at 100 μM of the PBDE mixture. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that PBDE treatments of 1, 5, and 20 μM altered the expression of several genes involved in the reactive oxygen species signaling pathway. Significant dose-dependent reductions in progesterone and estradiol levels in the culture medium were measured after PBDE treatment; in parallel, the expression of genes involved in estradiol metabolism, namely CYP1A1, was up-regulated by 5 and 20 μM of the PBDE mixture. Treatment with 20 μM PBDE also increased the expression and secretion of the proinflammatory factor, IL-6, into the KGN cell culture medium. Our results demonstrate that PBDEs can alter human granulosa cell functions by inducing oxidative stress and disrupting steroidogenesis. These results indicate that PBDEs may be detrimental to ovarian functions and thus may adversely affect female reproductive health after chronic exposure.

Follicular fluid insulin like growth factor-1 (FF IGF-1) is a biochemical marker of embryo quality and implantation rates in in vitro fertilization cycles

CONTEXT:

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been reported to play a role in human follicular and embryonic development. However, earlier studies carried out mostly in animal models or in culture mediums supplemented with IGF-1 have been unable to directly link IGF-1 with embryo quality. Results correlating IGF-1 with pregnancy outcome have also been ambiguous so far.

AIM:

The aim of this study is to find if in situ follicular-fluid level of IGF-1 is predictive of embryo quality and implantation rates in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN:

Prospective study involving 120 cycles of conventional IVF-embryo transfer in infertile women.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

IGF-1 concentrations were estimated in pooled follicular-fluid on the day of oocyte-pickup. Embryo quality was assessed daily at different developmental stages. Cycles were sorted into low and high follicular fluid insulin-like growth factor-1 (FF IGF-1) groups according to the median value of measurement. Embryo quality, clinical pregnancy and implantation rate were the main outcome measures.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

Graph-pad Prism 5 statistical package.

RESULTS:

FF IGF-1 correlates with embryo quality (Pearson r = 0.3894, r² = 0.1516, P > 0.0001) and clinical pregnancy (Pearson r = 0.5972, r² = 0.36, P > 0.0001). High FF IGF-1 group shows significantly higher rates of fertilization, cleavage, blastocyst formation and top grade embryos compared with low FF IGF-1 group. Clinical pregnancy rates (38.33 vs. 20%, P = 0.0272) and embryo implantation rates (21.6 vs. 10.32%, P = 0.0152) are also significantly higher in the high versus low FF IGF-1 group. Threshold value of FF IGF-1 for clinical pregnancy is <58.50 ng/mg protein (receiver operating characteristics _AUC : 0.85 ± 0.03, 95% CI: 0.78-0.91).

CONCLUSION:

FF IGF-1 is a plausible biochemical marker of embryo quality and implantation rate and correlates with clinical pregnancy rates in conventional IVF cycles.

Cytokines and Growth Factors in Implantation

Implantation failure is the most important rate limiting factor in the success of assisted reproductive techniques like In vitro fertilization–embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Cytokines are multifunctional signaling molecules having an implicit role in the human implantation process. This review focuses on the redundant roles of cytokines during the various stages of implantation. It also indicates that levels of cytokines in biological fluids like serum and follicular fluid obtained during oocyte retrieval might act as determinants of implantation potential of the blastocyst. Thus a holistic, metabolomic approach of analyzing biological fluids may provide a simpler approach to study the hitherto enigmatic process rather than the proteomic and genomic approach.

Relationship between ovarian stimulation regimen and interleukin level in pre-ovulatory follicular fluid and their effect on ICSI outcome

PROBLEM

The aims of this study were (i) to identify the presence and concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in pre-ovulatory follicular fluid (FF) in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation regimen for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) (G.1), hMG (G.2) or rFSH/ hMG (G.3) treatment and (ii) to determine whether controlled ovarian hyperstimulation stimulation regimen could affect the concentration of these investigated interleukins and as a consequences the ICSI outcome. (iii) Moreover, it was intended to clarify the association between these investigated parameters and the peripheral blood level of estradiol 17-beta, progesterone, leuteinizing hormone (LH) at the day of oocyte retrieval and (iv) finally to find out whether these interleukin concentrations in FF could be considered as an additional parameter for predicting fertilization and pregnancy outcome in ICSI patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Interleukin-6, IL-8 and GM-CSF concentrations were determined in the FF of 85 patients. The levels of these interleukins were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, using commercially available kits.

RESULTS

Interleukin-6 (6.5 +/- 4.6 pg/mL), IL-8 (222.9 +/- 163.4 pg/mL) and GM-CSF (1.6 +/- 2.7 pg/mL) were present in pre-ovulatory FF in ICSI patients. No significant difference in the mean concentration of IL-6, IL-8 and GM-CSF was found between the groups. Moreover, there was no correlation between these interleukin levels in FF and steroid hormone concentration in the peripheral blood.

CONCLUSIONS

Interleukin-6, IL-8 and GM-CSF were found in FF of patients undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation for ICSI treatment. The stimulation protocols showed no influence on these interleukin levels in FF. Moreover, no correlation was found between these investigated interleukins and steroid hormone concentrations in peripheral blood or ICSI outcome. Therefore, the determination of interleukin level in FF of patients undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation for ICSI therapy could not be recommended as a prognostic factor for ICSI outcome.

Autoimmune antiovarian antibodies and their impact on the success of an IVF/ET program

In previous papers, we referred to studies of the influence of antiovarian autoantibodies on menstrual cycle disorders in adolescent girls. We examined autoantibodies against ooplasma, zona pellucida, membrana granulosa, theca folliculi interna, and lutein cells. In infertile women in the IVF/ET program, we studied the positivity of antiovarian antibodies and cytokines, namely, TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta, in follicular fluid correlated with the following subgroups, characterized by the outcome of in vitro fertilization, as follows: G, pregnant; F, fertilized; N, nonfertilized; and O, no oocyte gained. The presence of autoantibodies corresponds to the success or failure of the IVF/ET program. Our results support the hypothesis that antiovarian autoantibodies play an important role in both the endocrine and the reproductive function of the human ovary and that it can influence them negatively.

Interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1alpha may affect the implantation rate of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) affect the implantation rate of patients undergoing IVF-ET.

DESIGN

Follicular fluid and serum were obtained on the day of hCG administration, the day of oocyte retrieval, and the day of embryo transfer.

SETTING

Cellular immunology laboratory in a research institute, a high technology IVF unit in a medical center, and a university hospital.

PATIENT(S)

Thirty-three women who were undergoing IVF-ET.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

IL-1beta and IL-1alpha were measured by specific ELISA and their levels were correlated with the implantation rate.

RESULT(S)

Classification of IVF-ET patients according to their implantation rate revealed significantly higher amounts of follicular fluid IL-1beta in the implantation versus nonimplantation cycles (68.5+/-24.6 pg/mL versus 20.5+/-13.4 pg/mL); The difference between the level of IL-1alpha in the two groups was not statistically significant(11.6+/-5.1 pg/mL versus 7.3+/-1.9 pg/mL). In parallel, systemic FSH/hMG-dependent IL-1beta and IL-1alpha production was observed in implantation cycles but not in nonimplantation cycles. Statistically significant IL-1beta and IL-1alpha production was observed after administration of hCG.

CONCLUSION(S)

Gonadotropins used during IVF-ET induce local and systemic production of IL-1beta and IL-1alpha. In addition, the implantation rate for IVF-ET patients who have detectable serum concentrations of IL-1beta and IL-1beta on the day of hCG administration could be higher than the rate for IVF-ET patients who do not have detectable concentrations of these cytokines.

Presence of leukemia inhibitory factor and interleukin-12 in human follicular fluid during follicular growth

PROBLEM

Cytokines have been shown to be present in human follicular fluid and have regulatory functions on follicular maturation. The presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and interleukin (IL)-12 in human follicular fluid obtained at different stages of maturation was investigated.

METHOD OF STUDY

Follicular fluids and granulosa cells were obtained from preovulatory and immature follicles. Follicular fluids from both groups were assayed for IL-12 and LIF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Granulosa cells from preovulatory and immature follicles were treated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in vitro and subsequent LIF and IL-12 production were measured.

RESULTS

The average concentration of LIF was significantly higher in preovulatory follicles (7.6 +/- 1.3 pg/ml, n = 24) than in immature follicles (2.0 +/- 1.3 pg/ml, n = 6). The concentration of IL-12 was significantly higher in follicular fluid obtained from immature follicles (10.9 +/- 5.0 pg/ml) than in preovulatory follicles (1.3 +/- 0.4 pg/ml). hCG only stimulated LIF production from mature granulosa cells; it had no effect on IL-12 production.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-12 and LIF are present in follicular fluid and their levels are regulated differently during follicular maturation. hCG stimulates LIF production from granulosa cells in vitro.

Cytokines in the human ovary: presence in follicular fluid and correlation with leukotriene B4

PURPOSE

This study was undertaken to correlate the follicular levels of interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and leukotriene (LT) B4 with oocyte maturity, fertilization, and achievement of pregnancy.

METHODS

The material was obtained from 22 women undergoing IVF, 8 of whom became pregnant and 14 of whom did not.

RESULTS

All of the studied cytokines and LT B4 were found in follicular fluids, but there were no significant differences according to oocyte maturity, fertilization, embryo quality, and achievement of pregnancy. On the other hand, a significant positive correlation was found between IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, and LT B4 as well as between TNF-alpha and LT B4 in follicular fluids with subsequently fertilized oocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

It seems that IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha and LT B4 may take part in the process of follicle wall degradation, and their follicular correlations may suggest more optimal follicular and oocyte development and maturation.

Cytokines in the ovary: pathophysiology and potential for pharmacological intervention

The ovary and testis are sites for interaction between the endocrine and immune system via leukocytes and their secreted products, the cytokines. There are convincing data available to show that the gonads are sites of cytokine action and production. In the ovary, cytokines and leukocytes are intimately involved in follicular development, ovulation, and luteal function. A variety of clinical situations may be due to cytokine action in the gonads, and therapeutic manipulation of the immune system may affect reproductive function.