Association of IL-1 and TNF-α Levels in Endometrial Secretion and Success of Embryo Transfer in IVF/ICSI Cycles

Advances in the use of organoids in endometrial diseases

The endometrium undergoes cyclical changes in response to hormones and there is a certain degree of heterogeneity among individuals. In vivo identification of the physiologic changes of the endometrium and the pathologic process of related diseases is challenging. There have been recent advances in the use of organoids that mimic the characteristics of the corresponding organs and the morphologic, functional, and personalized characteristics involved in different stages of diseases. In this paper, we discuss the process of creating endometrial organoids, cell sources, types of extracellular matrices, and their application in the study of physiologic endometrial states and various diseases.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Level in the Uterine Fluid of Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Its Correlation with Clinical Parameters

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level in the uterine fluid of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its correlation with the clinical parameters of PCOS.

METHODS

A total of 162 patients treated in the Reproductive Medicine Center of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between December 2019 and November 2021 were enrolled as research subjects, including 80 patients with PCOS and 82 patients with other gynecological disease, who were used as the controls. The patients' general data, along with blood glucose, blood lipid, insulin, and sex hormone levels and other data, were collected. The TNF-α levels in the patients' serum and uterine fluid were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Compared with the patients in the control group, the body mass index (BMI), anti-Müllerian hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone (T), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) of patients with PCOS were higher, and high-density lipoprotein was lower (P < 0.05). The TNF-α levels in the serum and uterine fluid of patients with PCOS were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01), and the TNF-α levels in the uterine fluid of these patients was significantly correlated with BMI, T, FINS, HOMA-IR, serum TNF-α, TG, and LDL (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

There is local inflammation in the uterine cavity of patients with PCOS, and the detection of cytokines in uterine secretions may be a simple and feasible method of understanding the uterine microenvironment of patients with PCOS.

Progesterone-induced blocking factor 1 and cytokine profile of follicular fluid of infertile women qualified to in vitro fertilization: The influence on fetus development and pregnancy outcome

Introduction: Progesterone is essential for both the initiation and the maintenance of pregnancy. The immunological effects of progesterone are mediated by the progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF), which is an immunomodulatory factor with anti-abortive properties. The aim of the research was to establish the cytokine profile and PIBF1 concentration in follicular fluid (FF) of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).Methods: Seventy-eight patients who qualified for IVF underwent a detailed medical interview, including the course of fertility treatment and physical, gynecological, and cytological examinations. The concentration of PIBF1, IL-18, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-8, and IL-15 in FF during ovarian puncture was measured using commercially available ELISA kits.Results: IL-1 beta concentration was lower in the FF of patients with successful IVF. IL-8 concentration in FF correlated with the number of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC-1), metaphase II (MII), and top-quality embryos. PIBF1 concentration had a positive correlation with the number of MII and top-quality embryos. IL-2 and IL-6 concentrations were positively correlated with the number of COC-1 and MII. An important parameter in assessing the chances of successful IVF is the number of top-quality embryos achieved.Conclusion: Higher PIBF1 concentration in FF may indicate a greater possibility of successful IVF due to the higher number of top-quality embryos. IL-1 beta concentration was found to be lower in the FF of patients with successful IVF. Therefore, PIBF1 and IL-1 beta in FF could be candidates for a marker of successful IVF.

Could human chorionic gonadotropin modulate interleukin 1β to be a successful pregnancy predictor or not?

OBJECTIVE

Reproductive medicine needs to find some ways to predict pregnancy outcomes and implantation, which are non-invasive and accurate. Immunologic factors and interleukins are good choices reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether or not HCG administration can modulate interleukin 1β as a successful pregnancy predictor.

METHODS

This is a prospective cross-sectional study involving women with regular menstrual cycles who had frozen their embryos. They prepared their endometria with letrozole and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Their interleukin 1β serum levels were checked on the day of HCG administration and embryo transfer. Its value assesses pregnancy outcome.

RESULTS

We had 44 women with mean age of 32.2±5.4, and clinical pregnancy rate of 31.8%, mean interleukin 1β before and after HCG injection in women who did not achieve pregnancy was 15.82±6.68pg/ml before HCG injection and 18.38±13.76pg/ml on the embryo-transfer day. It was high, but not significant (p value=0.210). In those participants who had clinical pregnancy before HCG injection, the mean interleukin 1β level was 17.29±7.00pg/ml and 29.72±10.41pg/ml on the day of embryo transfer, with significant changes (p value=0.001).

CONCLUSION

HCG did increase the mean level of interleukin 1β, but it was not significant. High interleukin 1β level is a significant predictor of successful pregnancy in IVF cycles.