title: What is the impact of Th1/Th2 ratio, SOCS3, IL17, and IL35 levels in unexplained infertility?
abstract: Implantation necessitates complex interactions among the developing embryo, decidualizing endometrium, and developing maternal immune tolerance and/or alterations in cellular and humoral immune responses. Overstimulation of T helper 1 (Th1) or Th2 cytokines in systemic and local environments, alterations of the prevalence of IL17 and regulatory T cell (Treg) cytokines have also been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of implantation failure. We aimed to investigate the plasma levels of IL4, IL6, IL10, TNFα, IFNγ, TGFβ, IL17, IL35, and SOCS3 in infertile and fertile women. This case-control study was conducted with 80 women suffering from unexplained infertility and 40 fertile women. Peripheral venous blood samples were drawn on day 21 of the menstrual cycle. The extracted plasma samples were assayed by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.0. Our main findings were as follows: despite the significantly high IL17 and IL35 plasma levels of infertile women, IL35/IL17 ratio was significantly lower in the infertile group compared with that in the fertile group; SOCS3 plasma levels showed an inverse relation with plasma levels of all cytokines except IL35; increased plasma IL17 levels (>3.42 pg/mL) have a negative impact on fertility; TNFα/IL10, IFNγ/IL10, IFNγ/IL6, and IFNγ/IL4 ratios were significantly higher in infertile group compared with those in the fertile group. It is not possible to show the major immunological factor(s) of unexplained infertility, but our findings point out that the decreased suppressor activity of the immune system may play a role in implantation failure.
authors.affiliation: Firat University Hospital, In Vitro Fertilization Unit, Elazig, Turkey. Electronic address: zehrasema@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zehra Sema
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Firat University School of Medical Sciences, Elazig, Turkey.
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deveci
authors.affiliation: Medipol University Hospital, In Vitro Fertilization Unit, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumbak
authors.affiliation: Firat University Hospital, In Vitro Fertilization Unit, Elazig, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.affiliation: Firat University Hospital, Department of Immunology, Elazig, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fulya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ilhan
authors.affiliation: Firat University Hospital, Department of Immunology, Elazig, Turkey.
authors.forename: Samet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sekercioglu
authors.affiliation: Firat University Hospital, In Vitro Fertilization Unit, Elazig, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ekrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sapmaz
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C508609:IL10 protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007378:Interleukins; C106644:SOCS3 protein, human; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C532417:interleukin-35, human; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: IL17; IL35; Implantation; Infertility; SOCS3; T helper