ABSTRACT
Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is possibly one factor produced by the embryo that might have a role in the maternal immunological recognition of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to identify an embryo-related factor suitable for prediction of pregnancy during IVF procedures. For this purpose, IL-1 beta levels were measured in 21 samples of human embryo culture-conditioned media. The average number of embryos per sample was 5 +/- 1. Simultaneously, 16 cell culture media containing 10% autologous serum but no embryos were tested as controls. IL-1 beta levels were measured using the ELISA technique, and the biological activity of IL-1 was measured by means of a C3H/HeJ mice thymocyte proliferation assay. The average IL-1 beta level +/- S.E.M. was 49 +/- 7 pg/ml in embryo culture-conditioned media and 12 +/- 2 pg/ml in controls (P < 0.001). The average IL-1 beta level in embryo culture-conditioned media from viable pregnancy cycles was 82 +/- 6 pg/ml (n = 8), while in those cases that did not result in viable pregnancies the IL-1 beta level was significantly lower (28 +/- 4 pg/ml, n = 13, P < 0.001). The IL-1 activity of embryo culture-conditioned media, measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation in thymocytes was increased, compared with control media (442 +/- 51 counts/min vs. 337 +/- 13 counts/min, P < 0.05), and the highest values corresponded to media containing those embryos that resulted in pregnancies (589 +/- 41 counts/min, P < 0.01 vs. controls). We conclude that the determination of the levels of this cytokine in embryo culture-conditioned media might be a predictive parameter for pregnancies in patients undergoing IVF-ET.
Subject(s)
Embryo Transfer , Embryo, Mammalian/metabolism , Interleukin-1/metabolism , Culture Media, Conditioned , Culture Techniques , Female , Fertilization in Vitro , Humans , Pregnancy , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
We have studied chemiluminescence produced by neutrophils stimulated by opsonized zymosan in insulin dependent (IDD) and non insulin dependent (NIDD) diabetic patients. Chemiluminescence was evaluated as the integral and maximum peak, total time and time to maximum peak of the response curve to opsonized zymosan. These values were then compared with circulating immune complexes (CIC) and glucose levels. Both IDD and NIDD patients had significantly higher values of chemiluminescence and CIC than normal controls. We also observed that patients who had the highest values of CIC and chemiluminescence levels were the ones with clinical microvascular complications.