title: The relationship of systemic TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma with IVF treatment outcome and peripheral blood NK cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the association of serum tumour necrotic factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma levels with IVF treatment outcome and peripheral blood NK cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study of 126 randomly selected women who underwent IVF treatment. The serum levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were determined by multiplex suspension beads array system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences with regard to the systemic TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma levels between the pregnant (n = 51, TNF-alpha: 53.5 pg/mL; IFN-gamma: 4.6 pg/mL) and not pregnant (n = 75, TNF-alpha: 63.0; IFN-gamma: 7.5) women after IVF treatment. For those women with a positive pregnancy after IVF treatment, the systemic TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma levels were higher in those women who miscarried (n = 13, TNF-alpha: 67.4; IFN-gamma: 9.1) when compared with those who had a live birth (n = 38, TNF-alpha: 48.7; IFN-gamma: 1.4), however this difference was not statistically significant. Interestingly, the systemic TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma levels were significantly higher in women who had a higher level of activated (CD69(+)) NK cells (n = 39, TNF-alpha: 86.8; IFN-gamma: 4.7) when compared with women who had a low level of activated NK cells (n = 87, TNF-alpha: 46.9; IFN-gamma: 1.7 P = 0.028 and 0.045 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The systemic levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma have no association with implantation rate or miscarriage rate in women undergoing IVF treatment. However, high levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma are associated with elevated levels of activated NK cells and this may subsequently exert a negative impact on reproduction.
authors.affiliation: Lister Fertility Clinic, Lister Hospital, 16 Calder Court, 253 Rotherhithe Street, London, UK. mythum@doctors.net.uk
authors.forename: Meen-Yau
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Thum
authors.forename: Hossam I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Abdalla
authors.forename: Shree
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhaskaran
authors.forename: Emily L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Harden
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Nazira
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sumar
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shehata
authors.forename: Amolak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bansal
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000097:blood; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D050498:Live Birth; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099192:CD69 Antigens