Role of the immunoregulatory potential of seminal plasma in the IVF treatment of infertility


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Abstract

Objective. To assess the relationship of an IVF program to seminal plasma application on the levels of the cytokines IL-18 and TGF-ß1 in the seminal plasma ((SP) of partners. Subjects and methods. The investigation included married couples (n = 71) who were treated for infertility by in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) via SP application on the day of transvaginal puncture. According to the treatment result, the patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) 32 patients with incipient pregnancy; 2) 39 patients with negative treatment results. The levels of the cytokines IL-18 and TGF-ß1 in the sexual partners’ seminal plasma were estimated by flow cytofluorometry and fluorescent microspheres using the special kits Human TGF-ß1 and IL-18 FlowCytomix Simplex Kits (Bender MedSystems, Vienna, Austria). Statistical data processing was carried out using MedCalc software version 12.3.0. Results. In the patients with incipient pregnancy, whose partners had significantly lower seminal plasma IL-18 concentrations and total ejaculate IL-18 and TGF-ß1 levels than in those with an unsuccessful treatment outcome. The TGF-ß1/IL-18 ratio was significantly higher in the sexual partners of patients with a successful treatment outcome. Conclusion. The seminal plasma level of the cytokines IL-18 and TGF-ß1 is associated with reproductive success when implementing an IVF program through seminal plasma application.

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About the authors

Alina Anatolievna Babayan

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: alinababayan@yandex.ru
Ph.D., doctor of the department of auxiliary technologies in the treatment of infertility named after prof. B.V. Leonov

Marina Arkadevna Nikolaeva

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: nikolaeva_ma@mail.ru
Doctor of Biological Sciences, Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology

Veronika Yuryevna Smolnikova

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: v_smolnikova@oparina4.ru
MD, leading research assistant of the Department of Auxiliary Technologies in the treatment of infertility named after prof. B.V. Leonov

Elena Olegovna Stepanova

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: elena2404.07@mail.ru
Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology

Tatyana Vladimirovna Dontsova

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: dr.dontsova@gmail.com
postgraduate student of the Department of Auxiliary Technologies in Infertility Treatment

Lyudmila Viktorovna Vanko

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: LVanko@oparina4.ru
MD, Professor, Leading Researcher, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology

Tatyana Yurievna Ivanets

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: t_ivanets@oparina4.ru
Candidate of Medical Science, Head of the department, clinical diagnostic laboratory

Elena Anatolievna Kalinina

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

M.D., Ph.D., Head of Department of assistive technologies in infertility treatment

Lyubov Valentinovna Krechetova

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: l_krechetova@oparina4.ru
Ph.D., Head of the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology

Gennady Tikhonovich Sukhikh

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: g_sukhikh@oparina4.ru
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Medicine, Professor, Director

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