Interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1alpha may affect the implantation rate of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) affect the implantation rate of patients undergoing IVF-ET.

DESIGN

Follicular fluid and serum were obtained on the day of hCG administration, the day of oocyte retrieval, and the day of embryo transfer.

SETTING

Cellular immunology laboratory in a research institute, a high technology IVF unit in a medical center, and a university hospital.

PATIENT(S): Thirty-three women who were undergoing IVF-ET.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): IL-1beta and IL-1alpha were measured by specific ELISA and their levels were correlated with the implantation rate.

RESULT(S): Classification of IVF-ET patients according to their implantation rate revealed significantly higher amounts of follicular fluid IL-1beta in the implantation versus nonimplantation cycles (68.5+/-24.6 pg/mL versus 20.5+/-13.4 pg/mL); The difference between the level of IL-1alpha in the two groups was not statistically significant(11.6+/-5.1 pg/mL versus 7.3+/-1.9 pg/mL). In parallel, systemic FSH/hMG-dependent IL-1beta and IL-1alpha production was observed in implantation cycles but not in nonimplantation cycles. Statistically significant IL-1beta and IL-1alpha production was observed after administration of hCG.

CONCLUSION(S): Gonadotropins used during IVF-ET induce local and systemic production of IL-1beta and IL-1alpha. In addition, the implantation rate for IVF-ET patients who have detectable serum concentrations of IL-1beta and IL-1beta on the day of hCG administration could be higher than the rate for IVF-ET patients who do not have detectable concentrations of these cytokines.