In a nutshell
This paper studied endometrial factors in women with unexplained infertility.
Some background
Endometrial receptivity measures how well the embryo attaches to the endometrium (inner lining of the womb). Defects in endometrial receptivity can contribute to infertility. There are different ways to test endometrial receptivity. One way is to test the presence or absence of integrin (a protein found on cells that is involved in cell signalling), like the αvβ3 integrin. Leukemia inhibitory factor (a protein that affects cell growth) is also a factor important in embryo attachment to the endometrium.
Methods & findings
The authors examined the association between endometrial factors and unexplained infertility. 55 women with at least 1 year of unexplained infertility were analysed. 20 healthy female volunteers were also analyzed as a control for comparison. All subjects underwent an endometrial biopsy (tissue sample taken from endometrium and studied). The tissue sample was analyzed for the expression of αvβ3 integrin and leukemia inhibitory factor.
Healthy controls were younger in age compared to patients with unexplained infertility. Leukemia inhibiting factor was present in 85% of healthy controls, but reduced in 65% of patients with unexplained infertility.
The expression of leukemia inhibitory factor was similar between patients and healthy controls. However, the average levels of αvβ3 integrin were lower in patients with unexplained infertility.
Women with unexplained infertility were divided into two groups, a normal integrin level group and a low integrin level group. Leukemia inhibiting factor's messenger RNA (genetic information) abundance was 4.4 times lower in women with low levels of integrin expression compared with women with normal levels of integrins.
Reduced leukemia inhibiting factor expression was strongly associated with poor reproductive outcomes. Women with normal integrin expression had a shorter time to pregnancy compared to those with no integrin expression.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that leukemia inhibiting factor in combination with αvβ3 integrin is useful for evaluating endometrial receptivity.
Published By :
Fertility and Sterility
Date :
Mar 29, 2014
