title: LIF and LIF‑R expression in the endometrium of fertile and infertile women: A prospective observational case‑control study.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and LIF receptor (LIF‑R) in the endometrium of fertile and infertile women during the implantation window. A prospective study was conducted between March 2013 and March 2015 at Iakentro, Infertility Treatment Center (Thessaloniki, Greece) and the 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki, Greece). The patient group consisted of women diagnosed with infertility, whereas the control group consisted of women who had delivered at least one live newborn (fertile women). An endometrial biopsy was obtained using a Pipelle on day 7 or 8 post‑ovulation, and the expression of LIF and LIF‑R was assessed by immunohistochemistry in epithelial and stromal cells. Primary outcomes included positive cellular percentage, staining intensity and H‑score. P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference. Overall, 45 women were included in the present analysis (15 fertile women and 30 infertile women). Mean age was 32.8±6.0 years for the fertile group, and 37.6±3.7 for the infertile group. LIF and LIF‑R expression was significantly reduced in the epithelial cells of infertile women (P=0.05 and P=0.006, respectively). However, no significant differences were detected with regards to the expression of LIF in stromal cells (P=0.95). In addition, LIF‑R expression was relatively higher in the stromal cells of the fertile group; however, the difference did not reach statistical significance (P=0.10). In conclusion, endometrial expression of LIF and LIF‑R is significantly reduced in the epithelial cells of infertile women. Expression patterns of LIF‑R in stromal cells require further research in order to achieve definitive results.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56242 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Chrysoula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Margioula-Siarkou
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56242 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Prapas
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56242 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stamatios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petousis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, 424 General Army Hospital, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milias
authors.affiliation: IAKENTRO, Infertility Treatment Center, 54250 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ravanos
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56242 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kalogiannidis
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56242 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mavromatidis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56242 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haitoglou
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56242 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prapas
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56242 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rousso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000473:pathology*; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D053680:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000032:analysis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C507837:LIF protein, human; C507840:LIFR protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D053680:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor alpha Subunit