Acute immunomodulatory changes during controlled ovarian stimulation: evidence from the first trial investigating the short-term effects of estradiol on biomarkers and B cells involved in autoimmunity

Marginal zone B cells: From housekeeping function to autoimmunity?

Marginal zone (MZ) B cells comprise a subset of innate-like B cells found predominantly in the spleen, but also in lymph nodes and blood. Their principal functions are participation in quick responses to blood-borne pathogens and secretion of natural antibodies. The latter is important for housekeeping functions such as clearance of apoptotic cell debris. MZ B cells have B cell receptors with low poly-/self-reactivity, but they are not pathogenic at steady state. However, if simultaneously stimulated with self-antigen and pathogen- and/or damage-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/DAMPs), MZ B cells may participate in the initial steps towards breakage of immunological tolerance. This review summarizes what is known about the role of MZ B cells in autoimmunity, both in mouse models and human disease. We cover factors important for shaping the MZ B cell compartment, how the functional properties of MZ B cells may contribute to breaking tolerance, and how MZ B cells are being regulated.

The role of sex hormones in women with multiple sclerosis: From puberty to assisted reproductive techniques

BACKGROUND

Multiple Sclerosis is a multifactorial chronic autoimmune disease, affecting predominantly females in the fertile age. Sex hormones changes during a woman's life, from puberty to menopause, including pregnancy and puerperium, may influence the onset and course of Multiple Sclerosis. The effect of estrogen levels on immune, clinical and radiological aspects of Multiple Sclerosis, also stimulated investigation on the effect of sexual hormones therapies, such as oral contraceptives and assisted reproductive technique, on the Multiple Sclerosis course.

SEARCH STRATEGY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

A literature search for original articles and reviews was conducted in the databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov of the U.S. National Library of Medicine site from 1988 to 2020.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

This review reports the effects of the physiological and iatrogenic hormonal changes either on immune or clinical or paraclinical features in the different life stages of women affected by Multiple Sclerosis.

Mass spectrometry-based glycomic profiling of the total IgG and total proteome N-glycomes isolated from follicular fluid

Couples with infertility issues have been assisted by in vitro fertilization reproduction technologies with high success rates of 50-80%. However, complications associated with ovarian stimulation remain, such as ovarian hyperstimulation. Oocyte quality is a significant factor impacting the outcome of in vitro fertilization procedures, but other processes are also critical for fertilization success. Increasing evidence points to aberrant inflammation as one of these critical processes reflected in molecular changes, including glycosylation of proteins. Here we report results from a MALDI-TOF-MS-based glycomic profiling of the total IgG and total proteome N-glycomes isolated from the follicular fluid obtained from patients undergoing fertilization through either (1) assisted reproduction by modified natural cycle or (2) controlled ovarian stimulation (GnRH antagonist, GnRH Ant) protocols. Significant inflammatory-related differences between analyzed N-glycomes were observed from samples and correlated with the ovarian stimulation protocol used in patients.

Unrecognised coeliac disease among men and women undergoing fertility treatment: A screening study

BACKGROUND

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease triggered by dietary gluten and has been associated with several conditions influencing female and male reproduction. Due to unspecific symptoms, coeliac disease can be unrecognised for years.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of unrecognised coeliac disease among couples referred to fertility treatment.

METHODS

Cross-sectional screening for coeliac disease in men and women referred to fertility treatment using IgA tissue transglutaminase antibodies as a marker of coeliac disease and small-bowel biopsies to confirm the diagnosis. Participants answered a questionnaire on gluten intake, gastrointestinal symptoms and reproductive history.

RESULTS

A total of 893 participants (51% women) were screened and eight were coeliac disease antibody positive. Small-bowel biopsies were obtained from seven antibody positive participants and unrecognised coeliac disease was confirmed in one woman and three men, corresponding to a prevalence of 0.45% (95% confidence interval 0.12-1.14). The total prevalence, combining already diagnosed and unrecognised CD cases, was 0.63% (95% confidence interval 0.29-1.12).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of unrecognised coeliac disease in a group of infertile patients was equivalent to that of the Danish general population and low compared with that observed in the majority of other screening studies of infertile patients. Surprisingly, it should be noted that more men than women had coeliac disease. This result does not support a need for routine screening among infertile patients.

The effects of superovulation with gonadotropins on autoantibody levels in patients undergoing assisted reproductive cycles

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of controlled ovarian stimulation (COH) with gonadotropins on the serum levels of autoantibodies in the women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles and to compare basal levels of these autoantibodies between groups according to history of COH.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was performed from October 2014 to March 2016 in the Royan Institute. The volunteered infertile women with regard to the inclusion criteria, who underwent IVF/ICSI cycles, were recruited. The COH was performed according to standard long GnRH agonist protocol. The mean levels of the autoantibodies including anti-nuclear, anti-smooth muscle, anti-ovarian, anti-mitochondrial, anti β₂-glycoprotein I, anti-parietal cell and anti-follicle-stimulating hormone antibodies were measured at three time points: on the 3-5 days of the menstrual cycle, 1 week after starting of COH and the ovum pick-up (OPU) day.

RESULTS

Of all participants (n = 189), 73 women had history of COH (group B) and 116 women did not have such history (group A). The analysis indicated that the autoantibodies changes during COH were similar in both groups. COH has no significant impact on the level of autoantibodies during the stimulation cycle. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the serum levels of anti-smooth muscle antibody on OPU day was the positive predictive factors for live birth following ART cycles in the studied population.

CONCLUSION

No significant effect of COH on the studied autoantibodies by the time of OPU was found but further studies are required to interpret these results.