Oocyte selection with the highest competency represent a major goal in IVF. Several studies have demonstrated that non classical HLA class I HLA-G molecule modulation creates a tolerogenic microenvironment at the feto-maternal interface and it seems to be implicated in embryo implantation. This study investigated if soluble HLA-G molecules production by the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) could be a marker of oocyte maturation. sHLA-G molecule levels were analyzed using Bio-Rad’s Bio-Plex assay in 152 COC supernatants obtained from 42 women and maturated by an “in vitro maturation procedure”. The presence of sHLA-G molecules was confirmed by Western blot technique. The results demonstrate detectable amounts of sHLA-G molecule ranging from 300 to 800 pg/ml in 14/73 (19%) COCs that generated mature oocytes and the complete absence of detectable sHLA-G antigens in the supernatants of COCs that corresponded to immature oocytes. The detection of sHLA-G molecules in the COC culture supernatants corresponding to matured oocytes is proposed as a possible marker to identify the gametes with a higher functionality. This non-invasive marker could be used in addition to morphological approaches to reduce the number of fertilized oocytes and transferred embryos.
Production of sHLA-G molecules by “in vitro” matured cumulus-oocyte complex
RIZZO, Roberta;STIGNANI, Marina;BORGATTI, Monica;GAMBARI, Roberto;BARICORDI, Olavio
2009
Abstract
Oocyte selection with the highest competency represent a major goal in IVF. Several studies have demonstrated that non classical HLA class I HLA-G molecule modulation creates a tolerogenic microenvironment at the feto-maternal interface and it seems to be implicated in embryo implantation. This study investigated if soluble HLA-G molecules production by the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) could be a marker of oocyte maturation. sHLA-G molecule levels were analyzed using Bio-Rad’s Bio-Plex assay in 152 COC supernatants obtained from 42 women and maturated by an “in vitro maturation procedure”. The presence of sHLA-G molecules was confirmed by Western blot technique. The results demonstrate detectable amounts of sHLA-G molecule ranging from 300 to 800 pg/ml in 14/73 (19%) COCs that generated mature oocytes and the complete absence of detectable sHLA-G antigens in the supernatants of COCs that corresponded to immature oocytes. The detection of sHLA-G molecules in the COC culture supernatants corresponding to matured oocytes is proposed as a possible marker to identify the gametes with a higher functionality. This non-invasive marker could be used in addition to morphological approaches to reduce the number of fertilized oocytes and transferred embryos.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
