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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Extraction, Labeling, and Purification of Lineage-Specific Cells from Human Antral Follicles
Published on: November 30, 2022
Mononuclear cell subpopulations in human follicular fluid from stimulated cycles
J A Castilla1, A Sampalo, R Molina
1Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Ciudad Sanitaria, Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.
Insights
Human follicular fluid contains distinct immune cells, including increased monocytes and activated T cells, suggesting lymphocytes play a key role in ovarian physiology and function.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Immunology
- Ovarian Physiology
- Cellular Immunology
Background:
- The ovary's immunological characteristics can be assessed by studying lymphocyte subsets in human follicular fluid (FF).
- Understanding these immune cells is crucial for evaluating ovarian function, particularly in assisted reproductive technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mononuclear cell subsets present in human follicular fluid (FF) and peripheral blood of in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients.
- To compare the immune cell profiles in FF and peripheral blood to control samples and identify significant differences.
Main Methods:
- Mononuclear cell subsets were analyzed from FF and peripheral blood of ten IVF patients undergoing laparoscopy.
- Flow cytometry was used to identify and quantify specific lymphocyte subsets, including monocytes (CD14+), CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and activated T cells (CD3+ HLA-DR+).
- Phenotypes for "memory" (CD4+ CD45R-) and "naive" (CD4+ CD45R+) T cells were assessed and compared between FF and control blood samples.
Main Results:
- Follicular fluid showed a marked increase in monocytes (CD14+) compared to peripheral blood.
- FF was enriched with CD8+ lymphocytes, while CD4+ lymphocyte proportion decreased.
- A higher ratio of "memory" T cells to "naive" T cells (2:1) was observed in FF compared to control blood (1:1).
- The percentage of activated T cells (CD3+ HLA-DR+) was significantly elevated in FF.
- Similar, but less pronounced, changes in lymphocyte subsets were noted in the peripheral blood of IVF patients.
Conclusions:
- Lymphocyte populations in human follicular fluid exhibit distinct characteristics compared to peripheral blood.
- The observed changes in monocytes, T cell subsets, and activation markers suggest a significant role for lymphocytes in ovarian physiology.
- These findings contribute to the understanding of the local immune environment within the ovary.
Abstract:
The study of lymphocyte subsets from human follicular fluid (FF) provides an opportunity to evaluate immunological features of the ovary. We investigated the mononuclear cell subsets in FF and peripheral blood obtained at the time of laparoscopy from ten in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients. Midcycle nonpregnant peripheral blood was used as the control. A marked increase in the proportion of monocytes (CD14+) was observed in FF. Although FF was enriched with CD8+ lymphocytes, a decrease in the proportion of CD4+ lymphocytes was observed. "Memory" T cells in FF, identified by the CD4+ CD45R- phenotype, predominated over "naive" T cells (CD4+ CD45R+) at a ratio of 2:1, which differs from the ratio yielded by control blood samples (1:1). The percentage of activated T cells (CD3+ HLA-DR+ cell) increased significantly in FF. When lymphocyte subsets were studied in the peripheral blood of IVF patients, changes similar to but less significant than those in FF were found. These data support the concept that lymphocytes play an important role in ovarian physiology.
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