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Detection of interleukin-6 in human follicular fluid
R P Buyalos1, J M Watson, O Martinez-Maza
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center.
Objective:
To determine if interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a normal constituent of human follicular fluid (FF) after ovarian hyperstimulation and to assess whether IL-6 levels differ in conditions associated with immunological causes of infertility.
Design:
After ovarian hyperstimulation for an in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycle, FF samples were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval.
Setting:
Referral center at a tertiary care hospital.
Patients:
Thirty women referred for IVF, including 10 patients with significant titers (greater than 40%) of antisperm antibodies and 10 with pelvic endometriosis. Ten patients with tubal infertility without antisperm antibodies or endometriosis served as controls.
Main Outcome Measures:
Analysis of FF levels for IL-6 using both bioassay and immunoassay.
Results:
Bioactive (range 0.32 to 32.2 U/mL) and immunoreactive (range 0.34 to 13.6 ng/mL) IL-6 levels were detected in FF of all subjects after ovarian hyperstimulation. Follicular fluid IL-6 levels were substantially higher (3 to 30-fold) than that reported in serum. There was no difference in the mean concentrations of IL-6 levels between patients with antisperm antibodies, endometriosis, or tubal infertility.
Conclusions:
Bioactive and immunoreactive IL-6 are present in human FF after ovarian hyperstimulation, supporting a potential autocrine or paracrine role within the follicular microenvironment.
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