INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA AND INTERLEUKIN-1-ALPHA MAY AFFECT THE IMPLANTATION RATE OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION-EMBRYO TRANSFER

Objective: To investigate whether interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and i nterleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) affect the implantation rate of patien ts undergoing IVF-ET. Design: Follicular fluid and serum were obtained on the day of hCG administration, the day of oocyte retrieval, and th e day of embryo transfer. Setting: Cellular immunology laboratory in a research institute, a high technology IVF unit in a medical center, a nd a university hospital. Patient(s): Thirty-three women who were unde rgoing IVF-ET. Main Outcome Measure(s): IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha were measured by specific ELISA and their levels were correlated with the i mplantation rate. Result(s): Classification of IVF-ET patients accordi ng to their implantation rate revealed significantly higher amounts of follicular fluid IL-1 beta in the implantation versus nonimplantation cycles (68.5 +/- 24.6 pg/mL. versus 20.5 +/- 13.4 pg/mL); The differe nce between the level of IL-1 alpha in the two groups was not statisti cally significant (11.6 +/- 5.1 pg/mL versus 7.3 +/- 1.9 pg/mL). In pa rallel, systemic FSH/hMG-dependent IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha production was observed in implantation cycles but not in nonimplantation cycles . Statistically significant IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha production was ob served after administration of hCG. Conclusion(s): Gonadotropins used during IVF-ET induce local and systemic production of IL-1 beta and IL -1 alpha. In addition, the implantation rate for IVF-ET patients who h ave detectable serum concentrations of IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha on the day of hCG administration could be higher than the rate for IVF-ET pa tients who do not have detectable concentrations of these cytokines. ( Fertil Steril(R) 1998;70:553-9. (C) 1998 by American Society for Repro ductive Medicine.).