Clin Exp Reprod Med.  2017 Dec;44(4):214-223. 10.5653/cerm.2017.44.4.214.

T helper cell subsets and related cytokines in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization before and after seminal plasma exposure

• Azad M
• Keshtgar S
• Jahromi BN
• Kanannejad Z
• Gharesi-Fard B

• KMID: 2401624
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2017.44.4.214

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a well-known method for the treatment of infertility. The present study aimed to compare the differences between infertile women with successful and unsuccessful IVF outcomes regarding the expression of T helper (Th) cell transcription factors and a group of related cytokines before and after exposure to their husbands' seminal plasma.
METHODS
This study was performed on 19 couples with unexplained infertility undergoing IVF treatment. Among the studied group, nine and 10 couples had successful and unsuccessful IVF outcomes, respectively. This study was carried out using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS
Before seminal plasma exposure, the expression levels of T-bet (p < 0.007), interferon-γ (p=0.013), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (p=0.017) were higher in the infertile women with IVF failure than in those with successful IVF outcomes, while those of GATA3 (p < 0.001), Foxp3 (p=0.001), and interleukin (IL)-35 (p < 0.003) were lower. After seminal exposure, the expression of T-bet (p=0.02), Rorc (p < 0.001), TNF-α (p=0.001), Foxp3 (p=0.02), and interferon-γ (p=0.001) increased in the unsuccessful IVF group, while the expression of Foxp3 (p=0.02), Rorc (p < 0.001), IL-23 (p=0.04), IL-17 (p=0.02), IL-6 (p < 0.001), transforming growth factor-β (p=0.01), and IL-35 (p < 0.001) increased in the successful IVF group.
CONCLUSION
In summary, IVF failure was associated with imbalanced Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg responses. Moreover, our results show that seminal plasma might have a positive effect on IVF outcomes via changes in peripheral blood T cell subsets.

Keyword

Cytokine; In vitro fertilization; T helper cell; Transcription factor

MeSH Terms

Cytokines*
Family Characteristics
Female
Fertilization in Vitro*
Humans
In Vitro Techniques*
Infertility
Interleukin-17
Interleukin-23
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Methods
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Semen*
T-Lymphocyte Subsets
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer*
Transcription Factors
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Cytokines
Interleukin-17
Interleukin-23
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Transcription Factors
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha