RESUMO
BACKGROUND: HLA-E products, class Ib human leukocyte antigens, act in the immunology of human reproduction as modulators of the maternal immune system during pregnancy. AIMS: To evaluate HLA-E role in the establishment of a viable pregnancy. MATERIALS & METHODS: HLA-E was genotyped by sequence-based typing (SBT) and analyzed for specific polymorphisms, comparing couples who underwent assisted reproduction treatment (ART) and fertile control couples. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in HLA-E allele and genotype distributions between ART couples and control couples. The allele HLA-E*01:03 was observed in 63.2% of ART men and in 35.1% of fertile men (P = 0.0032). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HLA-E allelic variants may play a role in the modulation of immune responses in the context of the inability of natural conception and establishment of a viable pregnancy.
Assuntos
Fertilidade/imunologia , Fertilização/imunologia , Frequência do Gene , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/imunologia , Infertilidade Feminina/imunologia , Infertilidade Masculina/imunologia , Adulto , Alelos , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Implantação do Embrião/imunologia , Feminino , Fertilização in vitro , Expressão Gênica , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/genética , Humanos , Infertilidade Feminina/genética , Infertilidade Feminina/patologia , Infertilidade Feminina/terapia , Infertilidade Masculina/genética , Infertilidade Masculina/patologia , Infertilidade Masculina/terapia , Masculino , Antígenos HLA-ERESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To assess ovarian reserve markers and anti-corpus luteum (anti-CoL) antibodies in dermatomyositis (DM) patients. METHODS: Forty female DM patients were invited to participate. Exclusion criteria included hormonal contraceptive use within the last six months, neoplasia associations, overlapped systemic autoimmune diseases, current pregnancy, gynaecological surgery and individual choice not to participate. The final experimental group for this cross-sectional study included 16 DM patients and 23 healthy controls, each of whom was evaluated during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Values for IgG anti-CoL (via immunoblotting), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, inhibin B, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) serum levels (via ELISA) and sonographic antral follicle count (AFC) were determined. RESULTS: DM patients and controls were of comparable mean age (p>0.05). The mean age of DM onset was 29.1±4.7 years, with disease duration of 5.6±3.2 years. Menstrual cycle characteristics, comorbidity and lifestyle were similar amongst patients in both groups (p>0.05). AMH values of ≤1ng/mL (p=0.027) and AFC values (p=0.017) were significantly reduced in DM patients relative to the control group, whereas serum estradiol levels (p<0.001) were higher in DM patients compared to controls. In contrast, serum FSH and inhibin B levels, ovarian volumes, and anti-CoL antibody frequency were similar in both groups. Differences in AFC and estradiol were determined to be significant following Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a diminished ovarian reserve in DM patients of reproductive age. Further studies are necessary to assess the idiopathic inflammatory myopathy-related factors involved in the ovarian impairment of this patient population.
Assuntos
Dermatomiosite/complicações , Infertilidade Feminina/etiologia , Reserva Ovariana , Ovário/fisiopatologia , Adulto , Hormônio Antimülleriano/sangue , Autoanticorpos/sangue , Biomarcadores/sangue , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Corpo Lúteo/imunologia , Estudos Transversais , Dermatomiosite/sangue , Dermatomiosite/diagnóstico , Dermatomiosite/imunologia , Estradiol/sangue , Feminino , Hormônio Foliculoestimulante Humano/sangue , Humanos , Infertilidade Feminina/sangue , Infertilidade Feminina/diagnóstico , Infertilidade Feminina/imunologia , Infertilidade Feminina/fisiopatologia , Inibinas/sangue , Folículo Ovariano/diagnóstico por imagem , Ovário/diagnóstico por imagem , UltrassonografiaRESUMO
The identification of sperm proteins involved in fertilization has been the subject of numerous investigations. Much interest has been dedicated to naturally occurring antisperm antibodies (ASA) and their impact in fertility. Their presence in men and women has been associated with 2-50% of infertility cases. ASA may impair pre- and post-fertilization steps. Experimental models have been developed using sperm proteins as immunogens to evaluate their involvement in sperm function. Our team has pursued investigations to assess ASA presence in biological fluids from patients consulting for infertility and their effect on fertilization. We found ASA in follicular fluids with ability of inducing the acrosome reaction and blocking sperm-zona pellucida interaction and used them to identify sperm entities involved in these events. We generated and utilized antibodies against proacrosin/acrosin to characterize the sperm protease system. We implemented an ELISA to detect proacrosin/acrosin antibodies in human sera and evaluated their impact upon fertility by developing in vitro assays and a gene immunization model. This review presents a summary of ASA history, etiology, current approaches for detection and effects upon fertility. ASA (naturally occurring, generated by animal immunization and/or of commercial origin) are invaluable tools to understand the molecular basis of fertilization, better diagnose/treat immunoinfertility and develop immunocontraceptive methods.
Assuntos
Anticorpos/análise , Infertilidade Feminina/imunologia , Infertilidade Masculina/imunologia , Espermatozoides/imunologia , Zona Pelúcida/imunologia , Acrosina/genética , Acrosina/imunologia , Reação Acrossômica , Animais , Antígenos/imunologia , Precursores Enzimáticos/genética , Precursores Enzimáticos/imunologia , Feminino , Fertilização/imunologia , Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Masculino , Espermatozoides/metabolismo , Zona Pelúcida/metabolismoRESUMO
PROBLEM: Peripheral counts of CD16(+ ) NK cells have been well characterized in reproductive failure. However, not enough case-control clinical studies have been conducted to establish normal or abnormal CD16(+/-) values in the endometrium. METHOD OF STUDY: Peripheral and endometrial NK cell counts by FACS, IL-6, and VEGF cytokines levels by ELISA were characterized in fertile women and unexplained infertility patients with implantation failures (UI-IF) during implantation window. ROC and correlation analysis were performed. RESULTS: Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC) analysis revealed endometrial CD16(+ ) NK cells, IL-6, and VEGF as good diagnostic parameters for unexplained infertility. Almost half of UI-FI patients showed increased total and CD16(+ ) NK cell counts correlating with decreased levels of endometrial IL-6 and VEGF. No correlation was found with peripheral blood values. CONCLUSION: Increased CD16(+ ) NK cells were associated with IL-6 and VEGF deficiency in a high proportion of UI-IF patients. Testing for these immunomarkers could be a potential tool in infertility diagnosis.
Assuntos
Endométrio/citologia , Infertilidade Feminina/diagnóstico , Infertilidade Feminina/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/citologia , Contagem de Linfócitos , Receptores de IgG/metabolismo , Adulto , Implantação do Embrião , Endométrio/imunologia , Endométrio/metabolismo , Feminino , Fertilidade/imunologia , Proteínas Ligadas por GPI/metabolismo , Humanos , Infertilidade Feminina/etiologia , Interleucina-6/deficiência , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Fator A de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular/deficiência , Fator A de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular/metabolismo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Endometriosis is a chronic benign disease that affects women of reproductive age causing abdominal pain and infertility. Its pathogenesis remains obscure despite all the research conducted over the past 100 years. However, there is a consensus among the specialists that the basis of its pathophysiology would be multifactorial. Many publications have demonstrated that chemokines are somehow associated with the development of endometriosis and infertility. In this study, we reviewed all PubMed literature using MeSH terms "chemokines" and "endometriosis" as well as "chemokines" and "female infertility" to establish what we know and what we do not yet know about this relationship.
Assuntos
Quimiocinas/imunologia , Endometriose/imunologia , Infertilidade Feminina/imunologia , Animais , Feminino , HumanosRESUMO
This study was conducted to assess genetic associations with endometriosis in a Puerto Rican population. Statistically significant differences in the allelic frequencies and genotype distribution of genetic variants in lysyl oxidase-like protein 4 (LOXL4) and complement component 3 (C3) were documented in patients with endometriosis-associated infertility versus controls, and in patients with endometriosis versus controls, respectively. In women who have the risk genotype at both single-nucleotide polymorphisms, the estimated risk for endometriosis nearly doubled.
Assuntos
Aminoácido Oxirredutases/genética , Complemento C3/genética , Endometriose/genética , Infertilidade Feminina/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Adulto , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Distribuição de Qui-Quadrado , Endometriose/complicações , Endometriose/enzimologia , Endometriose/imunologia , Feminino , Frequência do Gene , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Humanos , Infertilidade Feminina/enzimologia , Infertilidade Feminina/imunologia , Desequilíbrio de Ligação , Razão de Chances , Fenótipo , Proteína-Lisina 6-Oxidase , Porto Rico , Medição de Risco , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate FOXP3 polymorphisms (rs3761549, rs3761548, rs2232368, rs2232366, and rs2280883) in a group of infertile women with and without endometriosis and controls. DESIGN: Case control study. SETTING: Human Reproduction Outpatient Clinic of Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. PATIENT(S): The study groups were 177 infertile women with endometriosis, 71 women with idiopathic infertility, and 171 fertile women as controls. INTERVENTION(S): The FOXP3 polymorphisms were identified by TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results were analyzed statistically. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Genotype distribution, allele frequency, and haplotype analysis of the FOXP3 polymorphisms. RESULT(S): Single-marker analysis revealed that FOXP3 rs3761549 was significantly associated with endometriosis. In the infertile group without endometriosis, single-marker analysis revealed statistical difference for rs2280883 and rs2232368 FOXP3 polymorphisms. No associations were found with rs3761548 and rs2232366 either for endometriosis-related infertility group or idiopathic infertility group. Haplotype analysis of five FOXP3 polymorphisms identified a haplotype CTTGA associated with endometriosis and ACTAG associated with idiopathic infertility. CONCLUSION(S): This is the first study to report an association between FOXP3 polymorphisms and endometriosis and/or infertility. These findings require replication in other populations but suggest that the FOXP3 polymorphisms can be associated with risk of idiopathic infertility (rs2280883 and rs2232368) and endometriosis (rs3761549) in Brazilian women.
Assuntos
Endometriose/genética , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/genética , Infertilidade Feminina/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Adulto , Brasil , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Distribuição de Qui-Quadrado , Endometriose/imunologia , Feminino , Frequência do Gene , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Haplótipos , Humanos , Infertilidade Feminina/imunologia , Razão de Chances , Fenótipo , Gravidez , Medição de Risco , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
In the present study, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12, IL-17, and IL-23 levels were measured in serum and peritoneal fluid of women with minimal or mild endometriosis and compared with levels in controls without endometriosis. Higher IL-23 levels were encountered in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis, suggesting a possible role of this cytokine in these women's infertility.
Assuntos
Líquido Ascítico/imunologia , Endometriose/imunologia , Infertilidade Feminina/imunologia , Interleucina-23/sangue , Doenças Peritoneais/imunologia , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores/imunologia , Adulto , Biomarcadores/sangue , Brasil , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Estudos Transversais , Endometriose/complicações , Endometriose/diagnóstico , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Humanos , Infertilidade Feminina/diagnóstico , Interleucina-10/sangue , Interleucina-12/sangue , Interleucina-17/sangue , Laparoscopia , Doenças Peritoneais/complicações , Doenças Peritoneais/diagnóstico , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Células Th1/imunologia , Células Th17/imunologia , Células Th2/imunologia , Regulação para CimaRESUMO
A aplicação terapêutica de Células Tronco ( CT) em equinos é um campo emergente. Nestes animais, as CT são promissoras para o tratamento de lesões nos tendões e rupturas de ligamentos...
In horses, Stem Cell (SC) therapies are a promising tool to the treatment of many injuries, as tendon lesions and ligaments rupture...
Assuntos
Feminino , Animais , Cavalos , Células-Tronco/imunologia , Infertilidade Feminina/imunologia , Infertilidade Feminina/veterinária , Tecido AdiposoRESUMO
The prevalences of antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) among 1,325 women with a history of unexplained infertility and 676 women experiencing recurrent implantation failure were compared with 789 women experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss and 205 fertile control women. Eight percent and 9% of women with a history of unexplained infertility and recurrent implantation failure had more than one positive APA compared with 1.5% of fertile negative control women and 11% of positive control women experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss.