Problem-To identify plasma immuno-regulatory molecules up or down regulated between the follicular phase and ovulation of the human menstrual cycle.Method of study-RayBio® cytokine arrays were used to screen 174 immuno-regulatory molecules in plasma collected during the follicular phase at menstrual cycle day 5 and at ovulation from 5 healthy, non-smoking, fertile women of reproductive age not using hormonal contraception.Results-A total of 23 differentially expressed molecules were found: 10 molecules were differentially up-regulated and 13 down-regulated at ovulation compared to the follicular phase (α=0.05, false discovery rate of 0.45).Conclusion-Circulating immuno-regulatory molecules fluctuate over the menstrual cycle in healthy women. The combination of differentially expressed molecules suggests roles in cyclical regulation of angiogenesis of and immune cell trafficking.
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