LEVELS OF INTERFERON-GAMMA AND TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA IN SERA AND CERVICAL-MUCUS OF FERTILE AND INFERTILE WOMEN - IMPLICATION IN INFERTILITY

Concentrations of two immune cytokines, namely interferon-Gamma (INF-G amma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), were determined in the sera and cervical mucus samples of fertile (n = 16), idiopathic in fertile (n = 44), and immunoinfertile women (n = 45) to investigate th eir role, if any, in female infertility. Sera of idiopathic infertile women demonstrated significantly (P < 0.0001) higher levels of INF-Gam ma compared to those in fertile controls, whether expressed as pg/ml o r pg/mg serum protein. Similarly, sera of immunoinfertile women demons trated significantly (P = 0.0008) higher levels of INF-Gamma compared to fertile controls and idiopathic infertile women. Cervical mucus of idiopathic infertile women also demonstrated significantly (P < 0.0001 ) higher concentrations of INF-Gamma compared to those in fertile cont rols. Cervical mucus of immunoinfertile women demonstrated significant ly (P < 0.0001) higher concentrations of INF-Gamma compared to those i n fertile controls and idiopathic infertile women. INF-Gamma levels in serum did not significantly (P > 0.05) correlate (r = 0.12-0.43) with the concentrations in cervical mucus, when all the three groups were compared together. However, when the serum levels were compared with t he cervical mucus concentrations by condition, only the idiopathic inf ertile group showed a significant (P = 0.005) correlation (r = 0.70). Serum levels of TNF-(alpha did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) amo ng three groups of women. Cervical mucus concentrations of TNF-(alpha, however, varied among groups with levels being significantly (P = 0.0 4) higher-in idiopathic infertile women compared with fertile controls and in immunoinfertile women significantly (P = 0.0007) higher than i n fertile controls as well as idiopathic infertile women. TNF-alpha le vels in serum correlated (r = 0.65) significantly (P < 0.001) with the concentrations in cervical mucus when all the three groups were compa red together or individually by infertility condition. These findings suggest the involvement of cytokines in infertility, and thus may have potential applications in diagnosis and treatment of female infertili ty.