title: sHLA-G and sHLA-I levels in follicular fluid are not associated with successful implantation.
abstract: In the field of in vitro fertilization (IVF), useful markers for the prediction of successful implantation for oocyte or embryo selection are essential. It has been reported that sHLA-G (sHLA-G1/HLA-G5) could be detected in the supernatant of the fertilized embryo and in follicular fluid samples (FFs), and that the presence of sHLA-G was related to successful implantation. If sHLA-G could be used as a marker of oocyte selection from multiple FFs, oocytes could be selected without physical contact, thus reducing the likelihood of damage. To investigate the potential for sHLA-G as a marker of oocyte selection from multiple FFs in one patient, protein levels of total protein, sHLA-G, and sHLA-I (sHLA-A, B, and C) were examined in FFs. The variation among multiple FFs in total protein level and sHLA-G level was not related to successful pregnancy. The average sHLA-I levels did not differ in the successful implantation and unsuccessful implantation groups, indicating that sHLA-I levels were not related to successful pregnancy. Furthermore, sHLA-G in FFs was not detected by western blotting, despite being detected by ELISA, while sHLA-I was detected by both ELISA and western blot. These data suggest that sHLA-G in FF might not be a useful marker for oocyte selection as measurements of sHLA-G were inconsistent and there was no association with successful pregnancy. Further, more rigorously tested ELISA systems for detecting sHLA-G in body fluids are necessary before the utility of sHLA-G for diagnosis can be established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Nara Medical University, 840, Shijocho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan. Electronic address: osage@naramed-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ouji-Sageshima
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Nara Medical University, 840, Shijocho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuui
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Nara Medical University, 840, Shijocho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.affiliation: Fertility Clinic Tokyo, 2-11-16, Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.affiliation: Fertility Clinic Tokyo, 2-11-16, Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Odawara
authors.affiliation: Yamashita Ladies' Clinic, 7-1-8, Isogamidori, Chuuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-0086, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Yamashita Ladies' Clinic, 7-1-8, Isogamidori, Chuuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-0086, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwayama
authors.affiliation: ASKA Ladies Clinic, 3-3-17, Kitatomigaoka, Nara, Nara 631-0001, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awai
authors.affiliation: ASKA Ladies Clinic, 3-3-17, Kitatomigaoka, Nara, Nara 631-0001, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: The Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Geraghty
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Nara Medical University, 840, Shijocho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishitani
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Nara Medical University, 840, Shijocho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatake
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Nara Medical University, 840, Shijocho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000276:immunology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D059951:HLA-G Antigens
keywords: Follicular fluid; HLA class Ia; HLA-G; In vitro fertilization