The role of expressed T-cells cytokines mRNAs from endometrial tissue in patients with unexplained infertility

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory process and cytokines parameters that potentially modulates unexplained infertility (UI) by monitoring changes in the mRNA expression levels. From 52 UI patients who underwent biopsy, we collected endometrial tissue specimens between 21st-24th days of the menstrual cycles. Specimens were also collected from 34 matched healthy-fertility women, which served as control. Blood hormone levels were evaluated on 2nd and 3rd day of the menstrual cycles. We measured mRNAs of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-8], anti-inflammatory cytokine [IL-10], and other cytokines [IL-12A, IL-17A, IL-20, leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)]. Real-time q-PCR was used to examine immunomodulatory effects on UI cases. There was no significant difference between UI and control groups in terms of age, body-mass index (BMI), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4 (FT4), and progesterone levels (P> 0.05). Estradiol (E2) levels were significantly different between the groups (P< 0.01). Compared to fertile-controls, mRNA expression levels of IL-12A, IL-17A, TNF-α, and LIF were significantly lower in UI specimens (P< 0.05). IL-10 mRNA expressions were higher in UI than fertile-controls (P< 0.05). Spearman test demosrated positive correlation between cytokines in the UI group (P< 0.05). Our findings highlight that depending on the patients’ immunity, decreased expressions of IL-12A, IL-17A, LIF, TNF-α, and higher expressions of IL-10 in the endometrium of UI patients may be one of the potential cellular/molecular alteration mechanisms of infertility. Better understanding of these complex mechanisms may provide newer therapeutic targets for managing UI.