P –238 Impaired oocyte fertilization is associated with a proinflammatory M1 phenotype of macrophages and the activation of the NLRC4 inflammasome

This study reports a cellular and molecular inflammatory signature associated with reduced oocyte fertilization rates after ICSI treatment in clinically asymptomatic patients.On a cellular level proinflammatory M1 macrophages were significantly elevated in the low fertilization group (p  <  0.01), additionally the ratio of proinflammatory M1 macrophages to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype was inversely associated with oocyte fertilization rate (p <  0.001). Cytotoxic T cells (p <  0.05) and the inflammasome NLRC4 (p <  0.01) revealed identical patterns of association with fertilization rates in the group comparison.In line with this pattern, there was a significant upregulation of Caspase 1 with a consecutive increase in IL–1ß activity in women with low fertilization rates (p <  0.05).No significant association was shown for the other tested immune cells (leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, T-helper cells) and inflammasomes (NLRC3, AIM2).Limitations, reasons for cautionThe preliminary results in this small study indicate an activation of the inflammasome NLRC4. This, however, has to be assessed on the protein level in a larger group of patients.Wider implications of the findings: Systemic macrophage augmentation of M1 phenotype and cytotoxic T cell presence in combination with upregulated inflammasome NLRC4 are associated with impaired oocyte fertilization. The predictive information of the identified immunologic signature could indicate ta...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research