Concentrations of immunoreactive interleukin-1 and interleukin-2 in human preovulatory follicular fluid
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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Isolation of Small Preantral Follicles from the Bovine Ovary Using a Combination of Fragmentation, Homogenization, and Serial Filtration
Published on: September 27, 2022
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, South Australia.
Insights
Human follicular fluid contains interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). These cytokines correlate with plasma levels but not with follicular fluid steroids or volume, suggesting a role in ovarian physiology.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Cytokine Research
Background:
- Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Interleukin-2 (IL-2) are key immune signaling molecules.
- Their presence and role in human ovarian follicular fluid are not well understood.
- Understanding cytokine involvement is crucial for reproductive health research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and levels of IL-1 and IL-2 in human follicular fluid.
- To determine the correlation of these cytokines with plasma levels and follicular fluid parameters.
- To explore potential roles of IL-1 and IL-2 in ovarian physiology.
Main Methods:
- Radioimmunoassay was used to quantify IL-1 and IL-2 concentrations.
- Follicular fluid and plasma samples were collected from women undergoing in-vitro fertilization.
- Statistical analysis was performed to assess correlations between cytokine levels and other parameters.
Main Results:
- Immunoreactive IL-1 and IL-2 were detected in human preovulatory follicular fluid.
- IL-1 and IL-2 levels in follicular fluid positively correlated with their respective plasma concentrations.
- No association was found between IL-1, IL-2, and follicular fluid steroid levels or volume.
Conclusions:
- Human preovulatory follicular fluid contains detectable levels of IL-1 and IL-2.
- The correlation with plasma suggests systemic influences on follicular cytokine levels.
- The precise role of IL-1 and IL-2 in ovarian function requires further investigation.
Abstract:
The presence of immunoreactive interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in human follicular fluid obtained at the time of oocyte collection for in-vitro fertilization was ascertained by radioimmunoassay. In group I (20 fluids from 20 patients), the concentrations of IL-1 were 0.9 +/- 0.06 and 1.9 +/- 0.04 (mean +/- SEM) fmol/l in follicular fluid and plasma respectively. A positive correlation existed between IL-1 levels in follicular fluid and plasma (r = 0.56, P less than 0.01). Concentrations of IL-2 were 3.5 +/- 0.2 and 6.1 +/- 0.3 fmol/l in follicular fluid and plasma respectively. A positive correlation of IL-2 levels was also found between follicular fluid and plasma (r = 0.65, P less than 0.01). There was no association between IL-1, IL-2 and steroid levels, regardless of whether they were compared in follicular fluid or plasma. Group II was composed of a series of fluids (two to seven samples for each of seven patients) in which the follicular concentrations of IL-1 and IL-2 did not show a positive correlation with the volume of follicular fluid or the concentrations of follicular fluid steroids. It is concluded that human preovulatory follicular fluid contains immunoreactive IL-1 and IL-2. The role of IL-1 and IL-2 in ovarian physiology remains to be determined.
