title: Immunosuppressive activity in human embryo growth media is associated with successful pregnancy: effect of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine whether the secretion of embryo-associated immunosuppressor factor (EASF) by preimplantation embryo correlates with pregnancy outcome and whether this relationship is influenced by pretreatment of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). EASF activity was measured using concanavalin A-induced human lymphocyte proliferation assay in 256 embryo growth media obtained from 61 patients undergoing IVF-ET. EASF activity was then correlated with GnRHa treatment and pregnancy outcome in these IVF patients. Results indicate that (i) the presence of immunosuppressive activity in human embryo growth media is associated with success of pregnancy in GnRHa nontreated patients and (ii) serum factors present in GnRHa-treated patients may affect the EASF secretion by preembryos in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mahadevan
mesh_terms: D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide