Gonadotropins Induce the Release of Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α from the Human Preovulatory Follicle

• Published in: American journal of reproductive immunology (1989) 1998-06, Vol.39 (6), p.387-390
• Main Authors: de Mola, J. Ricardo Loret, Goldfarb, James M., Hecht, Bryan R., Babbo, C. Jan, Baumgardner, Gavin P., Friedlander, Miriam A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Chorionic Gonadotropin - administration & dosage; Cytokines; Estradiol - blood; Estradiol - metabolism; Female; Follicular Fluid - drug effects; Follicular Fluid - immunology; Follicular Fluid - metabolism; Follicular Phase - blood; Follicular Phase - immunology; Follicular Phase - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gonadotropins - pharmacology; Hormone metabolism and regulation; Humans; Interleukin-1 - secretion; interleukin-1β; interleukin-6; Interleukin-6 - secretion; Luteinizing Hormone - secretion; Mammalian female genital system; Ovarian Follicle - drug effects; Ovarian Follicle - immunology; Ovarian Follicle - secretion; ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome; ovary; Ovulation Induction; Progesterone - blood; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - secretion; tumor necrosis factor-α; Vertebrates: reproduction
• ISSN: 1046-7408; 1600-0897
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1998.tb00374.x

PROBLEM; The effects of exogenous gonadotropin administration and steroid levels on the release of various cytokines into the human follicular fluid (FF) were studied. METHOD OF STUDY: Forty patients were included in two groups, those undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) (n = 33) and natural cycles (n = 7). FF transvaginal aspirations were performed 36 hr after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin or a spontaneous surge of luteinizing hormone, respectively. FF cytokine measurements were performed with sensitive immunoassays. RESULTS: FF cytokine levels were higher after COH [interleukin (IL)‐1β, 6.6 ± 0.32 pg/ml; IL‐6, 18.7 ± 2.1 pg/ml; and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, 32.5 ± 4.9 pg/ml] than in natural unstimulated cycles (0.52 ± 0.1 pg/ml, P < 0.001; 8.9 ± 1.2 pg/ml, P < 0.01; and 13.2 ± 2.6 pg/ml, P < 0.001, respectively). FF estradiol (E2) and progesterone levels were not statistically different between groups, despite the higher serum E2 levels observed in patients after COH. CONCLUSIONS: Gonadotropins might regulate ovarian secretion of cytokines, because FF IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α levels after COH were higher than during natural cycles.