Increased Serum IFN-γ in Women with a History of Repeated Implantation Failures after in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer

Abstract

Objective: To compare serum cytokines, including interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10, between non-pregnant women with repeated implantation failures (RIFs) after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles and those with normal fertility during late follicular phase. Methods: Serum levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-10 in 24 women with RIF and 40 women with normal fertility were measured using Luminex-based cytokine assays. Results: A significantly higher serum level of IFN-γ was observed in women with RIF (median=38.50 pg/mL, interquartile [IQ] range 2.44-86.73 pg/mL) than in controls (median=2.44 pg/mL, IQ range 2.44-47.01 pg/mL, p＜0.05). A significantly higher IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was observed in women with RIF (median=7.7, IQ range 1.0-21.1) than in controls (median=2.9, IQ range 1.0-8.4, p＜0.05). Conclusion: A significantly higher serum IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in women with RIF after IVFET cycles might suggest skewed Th1 immune status was possibly associated with the pathogenesis of implantation failures.