title: Differential expression of follicular fluid cytokines: relationship to subsequent pregnancy in IVF cycles.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the role of cytokines in the peri-ovulatory follicular fluid (FF) during IVF cycles. FF from 112 women was obtained during oocyte retrieval for IVF. The concentrations of five cytokines [interleukin (IL)- 1beta, IL-6, IL-12, IL-13, and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha )] were measured in FF and their concentrations compared among women who became pregnant and those who did not. Thirty-one endometriosis patients, 15 idiopathic infertility, 21 tubal factor infertility, 15 ovarian factor infertility, and 30 patients with male factor infertility were included. Interleukin-13 and TNFalpha were absent in the peri-ovulatory FF of all patients. Fifty-two patients achieved pregnancy, whereas 60 did not. Both pregnant and non-pregnant groups were comparable for age, parity, ovarian stimulation parameters, fertilization rates, and embryo freezing rates. Concentrations of FF IL-1beta were not significantly different between pregnant and non-pregnant cycles. Concentrations of FF IL-6 were significantly higher in pregnant compared with non-pregnant cycles (P = 0.0005). Concentrations of FF IL-12 were significantly lower in pregnant compared with non-pregnant cycles (P = 0.0002). Higher concentrations of IL-12 and lower concentrations of IL-6 in the peri-ovulatory FF are associated with a negative outcome in IVF treatment. Interleukins-12 and IL-6 are biological markers that appear to affect IVF outcome.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics-Gynaecology and Glickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bedaiwy
authors.forename: Ahmed Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Shahin
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: AbulHassan
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Rakesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Falcone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines