Increased AIF-1-mediated TNF- α expression during implantation phase in IVF cycles with GnRH antagonist protocol

AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONIs allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1), a cytokine associated with inflammation and allograft rejection, aberrantly elevated inin vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol with potential effects on endometrial receptivity?SUMMARY ANSWEROur findings indicated AIF-1 is increased in IVF cycles with GnRH antagonist protocol and mediates greater TNF- α expression during implantation phase, which may be unfavorable for embryo implantation.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYStudies have shown that GnRH antagonist protocol cycles have lower implantation and clinical pregnancy rates than GnRH agonist long protocol cycles. Endometrial receptivity but not embryo quality is a key factor contributing to this phenomenon; however, the mechanism is still unknown.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONImplantation and pregnancy rates were studied in 238 patients undergoing their first cycle of IVF/ICSI between 2012 and 2014. Forty of these patients opted to have no fresh embryo replacement and were divided into two equal groups: (i) GnRH antagonist protocol and (ii) GnRH agonist long protocol, group 3 included 20 infertile women with a tubal factor in untreated cycles. During the same interval, endometrial tissues were taken from 18 infertile women with a tubal factor in the early proliferative phase, late proliferative phase, and mid-secretory phase of the menstrual cycle (n = 6/group).PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSMicroarray ...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research