Anti-Laminin-1 Antibodies in Sera and Follicular Fluid of Women with Endometriosis Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that autoimmune phenomena, including auto-antibody production, may affect fertility in women with endometriosis. The aims of this study are to evaluate anti-laminin-1 antibody (aLN-1) presence in sera and in follicular fluids (FF) of women with endometriosis undergoing IVF and its impact on oocyte maturation and IVF outcome. aLN-1 were measured by a home-made enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in sera and FF obtained from 35 infertile women with endometriosis and in sera from 50 fertile controls and 27 infertile women without endometriosis (IWWE). aLN-1 serum levels were significantly higher in women with endometriosis in comparison with both fertile controls and IWWE (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively) and a positive correlation was found between serum- and FF-aLN-1 (r=0.47, P=0.004). According to the cut-off (mean+3 SD of fertile controls), 31% of women with endometriosis were aLN-1 positive. Metaphase II oocyte counts showed inverse correlation with FF-aLN-1 levels (r=-0.549, P=0.0006). Ongoing pregnancy (i.e pregnancy progressing beyond the 12th week of gestation) occurred in 4/11 aLN-1 positive patients and in 7/24 aLN-1 negative with no significant difference (P=0.7). In conclusion, our results highlight that aLN-1 are increased in women with endometriosis and their presence in FF may affect oocyte maturation leading to a reduced fertility. However, aLN-1 seem to have no effect on IVF outcome.

Anti-laminin-1 antibodies in serum and follicular fluid of women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis undergoing in vitro fertilization

“…18,19 Recently, we analyzed aLN-1 presence in the serum and FF of infertile women with endometriosis undergoing IVF. 20 Our data confirmed that aLN-1 levels were significantly higher in women with endometriosis when compared with infertile women without endometriosis. Interestingly, in the same study, we demonstrated a negative correlation between aLN-1 levels detected in FF and the number of metaphase II (MII) oocytes, suggesting that aLN-1 could affect oocyte maturation.…”

The Impact of Autoantibodies on IVF Treatment and Outcome: A Systematic Review

“…Nine studies were identified affecting the reproductive system and possibly altering the possibilities for a successful IVF cycle [82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90]. Four of the aforementioned studies concerned ASA [87,89,90,91], 3 AEA [83,86,88], one AGA [82] and one aLN1 in the follicular fluid of women with endometriosis [85]. Although ALN1 is not classified as a reproductive-specific antibody, the study population is diagnosed with endometriosis, a conditioned that has been associated to aLN1 [92].…”

“…This case report validates the approach of ART for infertile patients with AGA. The impact of aLN1 in follicular fluids was explored in a prospective cohort study [85]. Women positive for aLN1 presented with similar ongoing pregnancy rate as women diagnosed as aLN1-negative [85].…”

“…The impact of aLN1 in follicular fluids was explored in a prospective cohort study [85]. Women positive for aLN1 presented with similar ongoing pregnancy rate as women diagnosed as aLN1-negative [85]. This is in contrast to the other study performed by the same team regarding aLN1 in serum of women with Hashimoto Thyroiditis [23].…”

Calcium Ionophore A23187 and Compound 48/80 Induce PGD2 and Tryptase in Human Cord Blood-Derived Mast Cells: Lack of Effect of IL-18

“…IL-18 also induces IL-13 and/or IL-4 production by NK cells, mast cells and basophils (51)(52)(53)(54). Human mast cells are known to be a rich source of prostaglandin D 2 , however, the regulation of cyclooxygenase (COX) isoform and prostanoid production by proinflammatory IL-18 cytokine has not been clearly elucidated in HCBDMC (55)(56)(57). Here, we studied the effects of IL-18, anti-IgE, A23187 and the compound 48/80 (an agent containing a cationic region adjacent to a hydrophobic moiety, which works by activating G proteins), on the generation of .prostaglandin D 2 (PGD) and tryptase by HCBDMC.…”