Some aspects of interactivity between endocrine and immune systems required for successful reproduction

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

Norbert Gleicher²  Yan-Guang Wu¹  Yao Yu¹  Emanuela Lazzaroni-Tealdi¹  David H Barad²  Vitaly A Kushnir¹  Eric Himaya³  Andrea Weghofer⁴ 

[1] Center for Human Reproduction, New York, NY, USA;Foundation for Reproductive Medicine, New York, NY, USA;Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

关键词: infertility;    Embryo quality;    In vitro fertilization (IVF);    Testosterone;    Androgens;    Immune system activation;   

Others  :  1172006
DOI  :  10.1186/s12958-015-0020-5

 received in 2014-12-03, accepted in 2015-03-15,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

In successful reproduction, endocrine and immune systems closely interact. We here attempt to further elucidate the relationship between androgen levels, systemic activation of the immune system and reproductive success in infertile women, utilizing 2 distinct infertile patient cohorts.

Methods

In Group 1, we investigated 322 women (ages 38.6 +/− 5.4 years) at initial presentation; in Group 2 125 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (169 IVF cycles, ages 38.9 +/− 5.5 years). In Group 1, we assessed androgens and an immune panel, previously demonstrated to discriminate between activated quiescent immune systems; in Group 2, utilizing the same immune panel, we investigated whether immune system activation relates to embryo quality in IVF cycles.

Results

No individual immune test within the immune panel was associated with androgen levels. The total/free testosterone ratio (TT/FT) was, however, significantly associated with presence of gammopathies (in IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE; P = 0.026). Surprisingly, immune system activation was associated with significantly improved embryo quality (P = 0.008), a finding persistent after adjustment for age and repeat IVF cycles (P = 0.006).

Conclusions

Association of immune system activation with improved embryo quality concurs with previously reported immune activation in association with normal functional ovarian reserve (FOR) and normal androgen levels, while, counter intuitively, hypoandrogenism and low FOR are associated with lack of immune system activation. Mild immune system activation, therefore, likely appears essential for establishment of pregnancy, and may be regulated by androgens.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Weghofer et al.; licensee BioMed Central.

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