title: The proliferative phase underpins endometrial development: Altered cytokine profiles in uterine lavage fluid of women with idiopathic infertility.
abstract: Endometrial gland development occurs during the proliferative phase of a woman's menstrual cycle, laying the foundation for the subsequent receptive, secretory phase when pregnancy is established. Idiopathic infertility has been rarely investigated with respect to the proliferative phase endometrium. We investigated whether gland development and/or altered secretion of cytokines during the proliferative phase is associated with infertility. Area of the glandular epithelium (GE) was measured in proliferative phase endometrial tissue collected from fertile (n=18) and infertile (n=14) women. Cytokines were measured in proliferative phase uterine lavage of fertile (n=15) and infertile (n=15) women. Immunohistochemistry determined cellular localisation of transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα) and interferon gamma (IFNγ) in proliferative phase endometrial tissue. For statistical analysis the cohort was divided into women <35years and ⩾35years. There were no significant differences in GE area of infertile and fertile women. C-C motif chemokine 11 (P=0.048), TGFα (P=0.049), IFNγ (P=0.033) and interleukin-1 alpha (P=0.047) were significantly elevated in uterine lavage from infertile women <35years compared to fertile but not in women ⩾35years. TGFα and IFNγ localised predominantly to GE in both the fertile and infertile endometrium. The potential impact of this altered proliferative phase environment on subsequent receptivity is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: harriet.fitzgerald@hudson.org.au.
authors.forename: Harriet C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lois A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Salamonsen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia; Monash IVF, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Luk J R
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Rombauts
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia; Monash IVF, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Beverley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Vollenhoven
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia; Monash University, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Tracey A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Edgell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Cytokines; Endometrial glands; Endometrium; Infertility; Proliferative phase