ABSTRACT
Background: The aim of this study was to detect the presence of interleukin [IL]-1B, tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, IL-6, IL-12 and IL-13 in follicular fluid and the relation between concentration of selected cytokines and in vitro fertilization [IVF] outcome
Methods: Follicular fluid [FF] from 87 women was obtained during oocyte retrieval for IVF. The concentrations of the five cytokines were measured in FF by cytokine-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and their concentrations were compared between women who became pregnant and those who failed to get pregnancy. Twenty patients had male factor infertility, 23 with tubal factor infertility, 19 had unexplained infertility and 25 patients with ovarian factor infertility
Results: IL-13 was absent in the peri-ovulatory FF of all patients. Twenty five patients achieved pregnancy, while 62 did not. Both groups of pregnant and non-pregnant women were compared regarding to age, duration of infertility, ovarian stimulation parameters, fertilization rates, number of arrested and transferred embryos and there was no significant difference between the two groups [P>0.05]. Concentrations of FF IL-1B and TNF-alpha were not significantly different between pregnant and non-pregnant cycles. Concentrations of FF IL-6 were significantly higher in pregnant compared with non-pregnant women [P<0.001]. On the other hand, concentration of FF IL-12 were significantly lower in pregnant than in non-pregnant women [P<0.001]. None of the studied cytokines was a predictor of good or poor-quality of an embryo [P>0.05]
Conclusion: Interleukin-6 and IL-12 are important cytokines that may affect IVF outcome. Higher concentrations of IL-6 and lower concentrations of IL-12 in peri-ovulatory FF may predict IVF success