Follicular GH and IGF1 Levels Are Associated With Oocyte Cohort Quality: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Oocyte quality contributes to the development of an optimal embryo and thus a successful pregnancy. The objective of this study was to analyse the association between oocyte cohort quality and the follicular levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4) and antithyroid antibodies, as a function of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. Material and methods: We conducted a prospective comparative pilot study from January 2013 to December 2017. 59 ICSI cycles constituted an abnormal oocyte cohort (n=34 cycles, in which more than 50% of oocytes presented at least one morphological abnormality) and a normal oocyte cohort (n=25 cycles, in which 50% or less of the oocytes presented at least one morphological abnormality). GH, IGF1, 25OHD, TSH, fT3, fT4 and antithyroid antibodies were measured in follicular fluid. Results: The fertilisation rate was lower in the abnormal oocyte cohort (65.5% vs. 80%, respectively, p=0.012). Oocytes' proportion with at least one abnormality was 79.4% in the abnormal oocyte cohort and 29.0% in the normal oocyte cohort. The mean number of morphological abnormalities per oocyte was significantly higher in the abnormal oocyte cohort. The follicular levels of GH (4.98 vs. 2.75 mIU/L, respectively; p <0.01) and IGF1 (72.1 vs. 54.2 ng/mL, respectively; p=0.05) were higher in the normal oocyte cohort. There was no association with follicular levels of TSH, fT3, fT4, antithyroid antibodies, or 25OHD. Conclusion: Oocyte cohort quality appears to be associated with follicular levels of GH and IGF1.

Growth hormone replacement improved oocyte quality in a patient with hypopituitarism: A study of follicular fluid.

BACKGROUND: Growth hormone (GH) is known to be involved in ovarian folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation. In patients with poor ovarian response without growth hormone deficiency (GHD), adjuvant GH treatment improves in-vitro fertilization (IVF) results. Improvement of oocyte quality in IVF by GH replacement was reported in only a few patients with GHD. We report on a new case with study of follicular fluid. METHODS: A 29-year-old patient with hypopituitarism was referred to our infertility center. She was undergoing hormonal replacement for hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and diabetes insipidus, and did not consider at first GH replacement. Four IVF procedures were performed between 2011 and 2014. Growth hormone replacement (somatotropin 1.1mg/day) was initiated before the fourth IVF procedure and unmasked central hypothyroidism; levothyroxine (75mg/day) was introduced. It took 10 months to reach the treatment objectives for insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), free triiodothyronine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4). GH, IGF1 and thyroid hormones were measured in the blood and follicular fluid before and after GH and thyroid hormone replacement. Oocyte and embryo quality were also compared. RESULTS: The first 3 IVF procedures were performed without GH replacement. 62% to 100% of mature oocytes presented one or more morphologic abnormalities: diffuse cytoplasmic granularity, large perivitelline space with fragments, fragmentation of the first polar body, ovoid shape, or difficult denudation. Embryo quality was moderate to poor (grade B to D), and no pregnancy was obtained after embryo transfer. After GH replacement, hormones levels increased in follicular fluid: GH [7.68 vs. 1.39 mIU/L], IGF1 [109 vs. <25ng/mL], fT3 [3.7 vs. 2.5pmol/L] and fT4 [1.45 vs. 0.84ng/mL]. Concomitantly, there was dramatic improvement in oocyte quality (no abnormal morphologies) and embryo quality (grade A), allowing an embryo transfer with successful pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report illustrating changes in hormonal levels in follicular fluid and the beneficial effect of GH replacement on oocyte and embryo quality during an IVF procedure in a patient with hypopituitarism. These results suggest that GH replacement is beneficial for oocyte quality in patients with GHD.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen-encoding Genes SERPINB3/B4 as Potentially Useful Markers for the Stratification of HNSCC Tumours.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA), encoded by the genes SERPINB3/B4, is a tumour marker produced by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We aimed to examine SERPINB3/B4 mRNA levels and its clinical significance in the therapeutic context. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrieved mRNA expression levels, clinical, pathological and genomic data for 520 HNSCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). RESULTS: HNSCC tumours express high levels of SERPINB3/B4 mRNA. SERPINB3 expression differs depending on Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection status, primary tumour location, grade and differentiation, extension to lymph nodes and extracapsular spread. Interestingly, we observed an association between SERPINB3/B4 and the presence of tumour immune infiltrate as well as the expression of the immune checkpoint regulators PD-L1/PD-L2 that depended on HPV status. CONCLUSION: Our findings point to potential interest of SERPINB3/B4 for the stratification of HNSCC patients in the therapeutic context.