Elective oocyte cryopreservation for age-related fertility decline

PURPOSE

Women who pursue fertility at an advanced age are increasingly common. Family planning and sexual education have traditionally focused on contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. A focus should now also be placed on fertility awareness and fertility preservation. This manuscript aims to give an update on the existing evidence around elective oocyte cryopreservation, also highlighting the need for fertility education and evidence-based, individualized counselling.

METHODS

A thorough electronic search was performed from the start of databases to March 2020 aiming to summarize the existing evidence around elective egg freezing, the logic behind its use, patient counselling and education, success rates and risks involved, regulation, cost-effectiveness, current status and future perspectives.

RESULTS

Clinician-led counselling regarding reproductive aging and fertility preservation is often overlooked. Elective oocyte cryopreservation is not a guarantee of live birth, and the answer regarding cost-effectiveness needs to be individualized. The existing studies on obstetric and perinatal outcomes following the use of egg freezing are, until now, reassuring. Constant monitoring of short-term and long-term outcomes, uniform regulation and evidence-based, individualized counselling is of paramount importance.

CONCLUSIONS

Elective oocyte cryopreservation is one of the most controversial aspects of the world of assisted reproduction, and a lot of questions remain unanswered. However, women today do have this option which was not available in the past. Elective oocyte cryopreservation for age-related fertility decline should be incorporated in women's reproductive options to ensure informed decisions and reproductive autonomy.

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans-induced expression of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta in human gingival epithelial cells: role in IL-8 expression

Gingival epithelial cells (GEC) are the first cells of the host that encounter the periodontal pathogens. and therefore their role in the initiation of the inflammatory response is critical. We aimed to: 1) characterize the expression of interleukin (IL)- Ialpha and IL-Ibeta in human gingiva and cultured GEC: 2) demonstrate the ability of A. actinomycetemcomitans extracts to upregulate IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-8 expression in GEC in vitro: and 3) characterize the role of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta in the induction of IL-8 expression in GEC in vitro. Ten gingival biopsies (5 inflamed and 5 controls) and cultured GEC were examined for IL-1alpha and IL-Ibeta using immunohistochemical techniques. GEC were also challenged with A. actinomycetemcomitans extracts or IL-1alpha, and secretion of IL-1 and IL-8 was determined by ELISA. In vivo, IL-lalpha and IL-1beta were localized in the gingival epithelium and the infiltrating leukocytes. In vitro, A. actinomycetemcomitans extracts induced a time-dependent expression of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-8 in GEC. IL-1 inhibitors did not affect A. actinomycetemcomitans-induced IL-8. although they inhibited IL-8 induced by IL-1alpha or IL-1beta. In conclusion, GEC are a major source of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta in the periodontium, which in turn induce additional inflammatory mediators such as IL-8. Therefore GEC can be a potential target for therapeutic intervention in the future.

Mechanisms of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans-induced expression of interleukin-8 in gingival epithelial cells

BACKGROUND

Gingival epithelial cells (GEC) are the first cells of the periodontium to encounter known periodontal pathogens, such as Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) and, therefore, the role of this pathogen in the initiation of the inflammatory response is critical. However, little is known about the interactions of A.a. with GEC. In the present study, the mechanisms by which extracts from A.a. induced expression of the chemotactic cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) in GEC, in vitro, were examined.

METHODS

An established GEC line, PP, was co-cultured with sonicated extracts of A.a. under various in vitro experimental conditions, and the IL-8 secretion was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

A.a. extracts induced a time- and dose-dependent expression of IL-8 from the cells. Dose-response studies indicated that the highest IL-8 secretion (7-fold, P < 0.01) was at the level of 50 micrograms/ml of A.a. extract. Time-course studies revealed a dramatic increase of IL-8 expression after 12 hours of continuous stimulation. Pretreatment with polymyxin B (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] inhibitor) did not reduce the IL-8 expression induced by A.a. extracts (P > 0.10). The introduction of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB 203580 markedly inhibited (> 75%, P < 0.01) A.a.-induced expression of IL-8. It is concluded that A.a. extracts upregulated the basal IL-8 expression in GEC.

CONCLUSIONS

The effect was LPS-independent and involved a p38 MAPK signal transducing pathway. Understanding mechanisms of proinflammatory cytokine induction is important in periodontal pathology as it may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for periodontitis, thus controlling host inflammatory responses.