title: Production of sHLA-G molecules by in vitro matured cumulus-oocyte complex.
abstract: Oocyte selection with the highest competence is a major goal in IVF. Several studies demonstrated that non-classical HLA class I HLA-G molecule modulation creates a tolerogenic microenvironment at the feto-maternal interface and is implicated in embryo implantation. This study investigated if soluble HLA-G molecules producted by the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) are markers of oocyte maturation. sHLA-G molecule levels were analyzed using Bio-Plex assay in 152 COC supernatants obtained from 42 women and maturated by an 'in vitro maturation procedure'. The presence of sHLA-G molecules was confirmed by Western blotting technique. The results demonstrate detectable amounts of sHLA-G molecules ranging from 300 to 800 pg/ml in 14/73 (19%) COCs that generated mature oocytes and complete absence of detectable sHLA-G antigens in the supernatants of COCs that corresponded to immature oocytes. The detection of sHLA-G molecules in the COC culture supernatants corresponding to matured oocytes is proposed to be a marker to identify gametes with higher functionality. This non-invasive marker could be used, in addition to morphological approaches, to reduce the number of fertilized oocytes and transferred embryos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, University of Ferrara, 46-44100 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Maria Beatrice
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Dal Canto
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stignani
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fadini
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.forename: Mario Mignini
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Renzini
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borgatti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gambari
authors.forename: Olavio Roberto
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Baricordi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I