Interleukin-1beta expression on ovarian granulosa cells and its clinical implication in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE

To detect the expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) on the surface of human luteinized granulosa cells and to understand its relation to the hormones in human follicular fluid and sera.

METHODS

Thirty-six women receiving in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were enrolled in this study. The luteinizing granulosa cells were recovered from the follicular fluid obtained during transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval for IVF-ET. Flow cytometry was employed to detect the expression of IL-1beta on human granulosa cells, and the concentrations of IL-1beta and the hormones in the follicular fluid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

IL-1beta was detected in the follicular fluid of women with IVT-ET and in the luteinizing granulosa cells. A positive correlation was observed between the sera concentrations of IL-1beta and estradiol on the day when human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) was injected (r=0.92, P<0.001), while on the same day the concentration of IL-1beta was shown to be inversely correlated with progesterone levels (r=-0.34, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

IL-1beta in the follicular fluid comes not only from plasma ultrafiltrate but also from luteinizing granulosa cells. The inhibition of progesterone production by luteal cells in the presence of IL-1beta may be one of the factors resulting in the failure of implantation.