Interleukin-1 levels in the supernatant of conditioned media of embryos grown in autologous endometrial coculture: correlation with outcome after in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if interleukin (IL)-1 produced by autologous endometrial coculture (AECC) was associated with outcome in patients with a history of multiple in vitro fertilization (IVF) failures.


METHODS
The conditioned media (CM) from AECC cells exposed or non-exposed to human embryos was analyzed for IL-1.


RESULTS
Embryos grown on AECC demonstrated a significant improvement in number of blastomeres and fragmentation (frag) when compared to embryos grown in conventional media without ECC (6.4 +/- 1.3 vs. 5.5 +/- 1.2 blastomeres and 14.6 +/- 9.3%, vs. 18.4 +/- 9.8% frag; P< 0.008 and 0.003, respectively). When IL-1alpha and IL-1beta were undetectable in the CM, the embryos grown in ECC were of improved quality as compared to the embryos grown only in conventional media. Conversely, IL-1ra levels in the CM were positively associated with embryo quality. Exposure or non-exposure to an embryo did not result in differing levels of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, or IL-1ra in the CM. IL-1beta levels were negatively associated with clinical pregnancy outcome (3.3 pg/mL (pregnant, n = 12) vs. 27.1 pg/mL (not pregnant, n = 17); P = 0.008, Mann Whitney U-test). IL-1alpha and IL-1ra levels were not associated with outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
We have demonstrated a significant improvement in blastomere number and frag with ECC. The presence of IL-1beta in the CM was negatively associated with embryonic development and clinical pregnancy. The presence of IL-1alpha in the CM was negatively associated with embryonic development and the presence of IL-1ra in the CM was positively associated with embryonic development. Whether IL-1beta itself interferes with successful outcome after embryo transfer or if it is a marker for undetected endometritis in the biopsy specimens remains to be determined.
Spandorfer
S D
SD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cornell University Medical Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Neuer
A
A
Liu
H C
HC
Bivis
L
L
Clarke
R
R
Veeck
L
L
Witkin
S S
SS
Rosenwaks
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D007375:Interleukin-1