Abstract
BackgroundDuring the last years, several studies have reported the significant relationship between the production of soluble HLA-G molecules (sHLA-G) by 48–72 hours early embryos and an increased implantation rate in IVF protocols. As consequence, the detection of HLA-G modulation was suggested as a marker to identify the best embryos to be transferred. On the opposite, no suitable markers are available for the oocyte selection.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe major finding of the present paper is that the release of ICAM-1 might be predictive of oocyte maturation. The results obtained are confirmed using three independent methodologies, such as ELISA, Bio-Plex assay and Western blotting. The sICAM-1 release is very high in immature oocytes, decrease in mature oocytes and become even lower in in vitro fertilized embryos. No significant differences were observed in the levels of sICAM-1 release between immature oocytes with different morphological characteristics. On the contrary, when the mature oocytes were subdivided accordingly to morphological criteria, the mean sICAM-I levels in grade 1 oocytes were significantly decreased when compared to grade 2 and 3 oocytes.Conclusions/SignificanceThe reduction of the number of fertilized oocytes and transferred embryos represents the main target of assisted reproductive medicine. We propose sICAM-1 as a biochemical marker for oocyte maturation and grading, with a possible interesting rebound in assisted reproduction techniques.
Highlights
Successful embryo formation and implantation are critical steps during in vitro fertilization procedure
The only biochemical marker so far proposed for the selection of the most promising embryo obtained by in vitro fertilized (IVF) is represented by the release of in vitro cultured embryo (24, 48- and 72-hours embryo) of soluble HLA-G (Histocompatibility Leukocyte Antigen-G) molecules
Several studies have confirmed the significant relationship between the production of soluble HLA-G molecules (sHLA-G) molecules by 48–72 hours early embryos and an increased implantation rate in IVF protocols [18]
Summary
Successful embryo formation and implantation are critical steps during in vitro fertilization procedure. There is urgent need of biochemical markers facilitating the prediction of successful oocyte fertilization and implantation of the in vitro fertilized (IVF) human embryos. In this respect, the only biochemical marker so far proposed for the selection of the most promising embryo obtained by IVF is represented by the release of in vitro cultured embryo (24-, 48- and 72-hours embryo) of soluble HLA-G (Histocompatibility Leukocyte Antigen-G) molecules. The only biochemical marker so far proposed for the selection of the most promising embryo obtained by IVF is represented by the release of in vitro cultured embryo (24-, 48- and 72-hours embryo) of soluble HLA-G (Histocompatibility Leukocyte Antigen-G) molecules This has been consistently reported by several groups [2,3,4,5,6,7]. No suitable markers are available for the oocyte selection
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