Increased AIF-1-mediated TNF-α expression during implantation phase in IVF cycles with GnRH antagonist protocol

作者：Bufang Xu, Mingjuan Zhou, Jingwen Wang, Dan Zhang, Feng Guo, Chenchen Si, Peter C. K. Leung, Aijun Zhang · 发表于：Human Reproduction · 年份：2018 · DOI：10.1093/humrep/dey119 · 被引用次数：39 · 研究领域：Reproductive System and Pregnancy、Ovarian function and disorders、Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosis and Management

STUDY QUESTION: Is allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1), a cytokine associated with inflammation and allograft rejection, aberrantly elevated in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol with potential effects on endometrial receptivity? SUMMARY ANSWER: Our findings indicated AIF-1 is increased in IVF cycles with GnRH antagonist protocol and mediates greater TNF-α expression during implantation phase, which may be unfavorable for embryo implantation. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Studies have shown that GnRH antagonist protocol cycles have lower implantation and clinical pregnancy rates than GnRH agonist long protocol cycles. Endometrial receptivity but not embryo quality is a key factor contributing to this phenomenon; however, the mechanism is still unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Implantation and pregnancy rates were studied in 238 patients undergoing their first cycle of IVF/ICSI between 2012 and 2014. Forty of these patients opted to have no fresh embryo replacement and were divided into two equal groups: (i) GnRH antagonist protocol and (ii) GnRH agonist long protocol, group 3 included 20 infertile women with a tubal factor in untreated cycles. During the same interval, endometrial tissues were taken from 18 infertile women with a tubal factor in the early proliferative phase, late proliferative phase, and mid-secretory phase of the menstrual cycle (n = 6/group). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Microa...