title: Soluble HLA-G molecules in follicular fluid: a tool for oocyte selection in IVF?
abstract: Currently, different approaches are used to select oocytes for in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, but they do not assure a significant association with the pregnancy outcome. Since several studies have proposed the expression of HLA-G antigens in early embryos to be a possible marker of elevated implantation rate, we have investigated the presence of soluble HLA-G molecules in 50 follicular fluids (FFs). The results have shown soluble HLA-G antigens (sHLA-G) in 19/50 (38%) FFs. Furthermore, we have related the presence of sHLA-G molecules in FFs to detection of the soluble antigens in culture supernatants of the corresponding fertilized oocyte, evidencing a significant relationship (p=1.3 x 10(-6); Fisher exact p-test). Specific ELISA and Western blot approaches identified both HLA-G5 and soluble HLA-G1 molecules in FFs while immunocytochemical analysis indicated polymorphonuclear-like and granulosa cells as responsible for production of sHLA-G1 and HLA-G5 molecules. In contrast, only sHLA-G1 antigens were detected in culture supernatants of fertilized oocytes. Overall, these results suggest a role for sHLA-G molecules in the ovulatory process and propose the FFs analysis for sHLA-G molecule presence as a useful tool for oocyte selection in IVF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Section of Medical Genetics, University of Ferrara, Italy. rbr@unife.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fuzzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stignani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Criscuoli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Melchiorri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dabizzi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Campioni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marzola
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Branconi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Noci
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Baricordi
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D015053:Zygote / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I