Leukocyte populations in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization: responses to hormone treatment and relation to outcome

• We aimed to prospectively investigate circulating leukocyte populations in infertile women undergoing IVF treatment and to determine whether any differences in cell proportions were associated with the IVF outcome. We also assessed the effect of IVF-based ovarian stimulation on the leukocyte populations. Twenty-five women were included and IVF treatment was successful in six and unsuccessful in 19 women. Blood samples were collected before IVF treatment, at the time of embryo transfer and four weeks after embryo transfer. The numbers and proportions of lymphocytes, T cells, NK cells, monocytes and granulocytes were analysed by flow cytometry, as well as the following lymphocyte subpopulations: CD3+HLA-DR+, CD4+CD45RA+, CD4+CD45R0+, CD8+CD45RA+, CD8+CD45R0+, CD4+CD25+, CD4dimCD25bright regulatory T cells, CD3-CD56bright and CD3-CD56dim NK cells. The proportions and numbers of leukocytes during IVF treatment were not related to the IVF outcome, although pregnant women (four weeks after ET) had a lower proportion of lymphocytes than the non-pregnant women. The absolute counts of lymphocytes, T cells, granulocytes and monocytes, as well as the proportions of granulocytes and T cells, increased at the time of ET, coinciding with high FSH and hCG levels. In conclusion, the proportions and numbers of leukocyte populations were not associated with the IVF outcome, although a larger study should be conducted to confirm this conclusion. Changes in both proportions and numbers of several leukocyte populations were observed during the course of IVF treatment, suggesting a stimulatory effect of the hormonal influence.

Nyckelord

IVF

pregnancy

regulatory T cells

immune regulation

leukocyte populations

hormones

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)