Disturbances in the LIF pathway in the endometrium among women with unexplained infertility.
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), its receptors LIFR and gp130, and its inhibitor SOCS1 in endometria from fertile women and infertile women with unexplained infertility. Signaling through the LIF pathway is involved in maintenance of a receptive state of human endometrium. Impaired endometrial receptivity may be a cause of female infertility.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
Hospital-based IVF unit and university-affiliated reproductive research laboratories.


METHODS
Twenty-six healthy fertile women and 14 women with unexplained infertility.


METHODS
Endometrial biopsy.


METHODS
Pinopode formation, expression of LIF, LIFR, gp130, and SOCS1 protein and mRNA in endometrial biopsies.


RESULTS
The expression of LIFR in the endometrium was negatively correlated to the expression of SOCS1 and positively correlated to the formation of pinopodes. In control fertile women, simultaneous intense apical staining of LIFR and gp130 together with faint SOCS1 staining was observed in epithelial cells, whereas the opposite was seen in most women with unexplained infertility.


CONCLUSIONS
Unexplained infertility in some women might be explained by disturbances in the LIF pathway in midsecretory-phase endometrium.
Aghajanova
Lusine
L
Department of Clinical Science Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. aghajanoval@obgyn.ucsf.edu
Altmäe
Signe
S
Bjuresten
Kerstin
K
Hovatta
Outi
O
Landgren
Britt-Marie
BM
Stavreus-Evers
Anneli
A
D001706:Biopsy; D017931:DNA Primers; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000652:urine; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011446:Prospective Studies; D053606:Receptors, OSM-LIF / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D017931:DNA Primers; C507837:LIF protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D053606:Receptors, OSM-LIF; C108944:SOCS1 protein, human; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone