Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
3964053 Journal of Reproductive Immunology 2007 10 Pages PDF
Abstract

Currently, different approaches are used to select oocytes for in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, but they do not assure a significant association with the pregnancy outcome.Since several studies have proposed the expression of HLA-G antigens in early embryos to be a possible marker of elevated implantation rate, we have investigated the presence of soluble HLA-G molecules in 50 follicular fluids (FFs). The results have shown soluble HLA-G antigens (sHLA-G) in 19/50 (38%) FFs. Furthermore, we have related the presence of sHLA-G molecules in FFs to detection of the soluble antigens in culture supernatants of the corresponding fertilized oocyte, evidencing a significant relationship (p = 1.3 × 10−6; Fisher exact p-test). Specific ELISA and Western blot approaches identified both HLA-G5 and soluble HLA-G1 molecules in FFs while immunocytochemical analysis indicated polymorphonuclear-like and granulosa cells as responsible for production of sHLA-G1 and HLA-G5 molecules. In contrast, only sHLA-G1 antigens were detected in culture supernatants of fertilized oocytes.Overall, these results suggest a role for sHLA-G molecules in the ovulatory process and propose the FFs analysis for sHLA-G molecule presence as a useful tool for oocyte selection in IVF.

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Life Sciences Immunology and Microbiology Immunology
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