Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor production by autologous endometrial co-culture is associated with outcome for in vitro fertilization patients with a history of multiple implantation failures.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether granulocyte macrophage (GM)-colony stimulating factor (CSF) produced by autologous endometrial co-culture was associated with outcome in 53 patients with a history of multiple in vitro fertilization failures.


METHODS
The conditioned media from endometrial co-culture cells exposed or non-exposed to human embryos was analyzed for GM-CSF.


RESULTS
Exposure or non-exposure to an embryo did not result in an enhancement of GM-CSF production. Insignificant levels of GM-CSF were determined from media alone. ROC analysis revealed that levels of GM-CSF from supernatants of endometrial co-culture exposed to embryos that measured below 130 pg/ml reflected a diminished prognosis (5/17 had a positive pregnancy vs. 21/36 with GM-CSF levels greater than 130 pg/ml; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The improved outcome associated with GM-CSF values greater than 130 pg/ml may reflect: 1) a direct positive effect of GM-CSF; 2) an embryotrophic factor upregulated by GM-CSF; or, 3) that GM-CSF functions as a marker for the importance of the glandular component in endometrial co-culture systems.
Spandorfer
S D
SD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cornell University Medical Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Barmat
L I
LI
Liu
H C
HC
Mele
C
C
Veeck
L
L
Rosenwaks
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor