Soluble HLA-G molecules in follicular fluid: a tool for oocyte selection in IVF?
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.
Rizzo
R
R
Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Section of Medical Genetics, University of Ferrara, Italy. rbr@unife.it
Fuzzi
B
B
Stignani
M
M
Criscuoli
L
L
Melchiorri
L
L
Dabizzi
S
S
Campioni
D
D
Lanza
F
F
Marzola
A
A
Branconi
F
F
Noci
I
I
Baricordi
O R
OR
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
D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I