DETERMINATION OF IL-1 AND IL-6 LEVELS IN HUMAN EMBRYO CULTURE-CONDITIONED MEDIA

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of interle ukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 in 24-hour human embryo culture-conditioned med ia (HECCM) and to find any embryo-related factor(s) to predict pregnan cy during IVF procedure.METHOD: IL-1 beta and IL-6 levels were measure d in 36 samples of HECCM and 17 cell culture media that had not been e xposed to embryos, which were used as controls. Both cytokine levels w ere measured by the ELISA technique, using commercially available kits . RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We found an average IL-1 beta level +/- SEM of 82 +/- 4 pg/ml (n=11) in HECCM from viable pregnancies and a signi ficantly lower value, 14 +/- 2 pg/ml (n=25, P<0,001), in HECCM from em bryos that did not lead to viable pregnancies, In control media the av erage IL-1 beta level was 11 +/- 1 pg/ml (n=17), (P<0.001 vs, HECCM fr om viable pregnancies). In contrast IL-6 levels were undetectable in a ll samples analyzed. Judging by our results we suggest that measuremen t of IL-1 level in HECCM could be a useful parameter for predicting im plantation in techniques of assisted reproduction.