Study on the expression of cytokines of follicle fluid in endometriosis-associated infertility women

Objective To study the expression of cytokines in follicular fluid of endometriosis (EMS)-associated infertility women. Methods From April 2017 to August 2017, 29 cases with EMS who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the Reproductive Center of Peking University Third Hospital were enrolled in EMS group and then divided into peritoneal EMS subgroup and ovarian EMS subgroup. Twenty cases without EMS who underwent ICSI at the same time were enrolled as control group. All cases with or without EMS were diagnosed by laparoscopy or laparotomy previously. The first tube of follicular fluid without blood from two groups of patients were reserved on the oocyte retrieval day. The expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-15, IL-18, IL-1β, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in follicular fluid of two groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The number of oocytes retrieved and the condition of fertilization were recorded in two groups. Results The expressions of IL-18 in peritoneum EMS subgroup (170.0 ng/L) was higher than in control group (142.3 ng/L, P 0.05). But the total gonadotropin (Gn) dosage was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.001). Conclusion The levels of cytokines IL-18 in follicular fluid of EMS-associated infertility women increase. EMS had no influence on the outcomes of subsequent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/ICSI cycle. Key words: Endometriosis (EMS); Infertility; In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET); Follicle fluid; Cytokines