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Follicular fluid expression of alpha-defensins and their role in ovulation.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Defensins are cytotoxic peptides and have a well-defined role in host defense. Human alpha defensins 1-3 (HNP1-3) are primarily produced by peripheral neutrophils and constitute about 50% of the azurphil granule protein. Studies have suggested that peripheral neutrophils and the resident neutrophils in the ovary enhance the release of IL-8 and TNF-alpha that play a role in ovulation and influence fertilisation rate and IVF outcome. The production of HNP1-3 by follicular fluid and its role in ovulation has never studied. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the presence of HNP1-3 in follicular fluid and to ascertain its correlation with fertilisation rate and IVF outcome. METHOD: Women attending the Reproductive Medicine Unit at Liverpool Women's Hospital UK, for IVF treatment were invited to participate in the study. Sixty-three patients were recruited for the study and underwent controlled ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval according to the unit's protocol. Fluid from the first follicle only was collected to minimise blood contamination of the sample and HNP1-3 was estimated using ELISA technique. RESULTS: HNP1-3 was detected in follicular fluid samples. The concentration did not correlate with the fertilisation rate (r=0.01). The concentrations were also not significantly different in the women who did or did not become pregnant following treatment. Subgroup analysis showed that women with endometriosis were not more likely to have higher levels of the HNP1-3 when compared with controls (male factor infertility group). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show the expression of HNP1-3 in follicular fluid. HNP1-3 concentrations did not correlate with fertilisation rate or IVF outcome. It did not show an increased expression of HNP1-3 in fluid collected from women with endometriosis suggesting that inflammatory processes associated with endometriosis do not influence HNP1-3 concentration in the follicular fluid. Further studies to evaluate the correlation between HNP1-3 and IL-8 and TNF-alpha may clarify the role of defensins in ovulation.

SUBMITTER: Das S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2582110 | biostudies-other | 2008 Feb-Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:Study questionAre phthalate metabolite concentrations in follicular fluid (FF) associated with the expression of extracellular vesicle microRNAs (EV-miRNAs)?Summary answerPhthalate metabolite concentrations are associated with the expression of EV-miRNA and their associated pathways in FFs.What is known alreadyPhthalate metabolites were recently detected in FF. Urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations alter the expression of EV-miRNAs in FF.Study design, size, durationProspective study including 105 women recruited between January 2014 and August 2016 in a tertiary university-affiliated hospital.Participants/materials, setting, methodsWe assessed FF concentrations of 12 phthalate metabolites. EV-miRNAs were isolated from aliquots of the same FF, and their expression profiles were measured using a human miRNA panel. Associations between EV-miRNAs that were present in >50% of the samples and phthalate metabolites that were measured in >74% of the FF samples were tested. Genes regulated by EV-miRNAs that were found to be significantly (false discovery rate q-value < 0.1) correlated with FF-phthalates were analyzed for pathways linked with female fertility using miRWalk2.0 Targetscan database, DAVID Bioinformatics Resources and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG).Main results and the role of chanceOf 12 phthalate metabolites, 11 were measured in at least one FF sample. Mono (6-COOH-2-methylheptyl) phthalate (MCOMHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate (mECPP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and mono (7-COOH-2-methyloctyl) phthalate (MCOMOP) were detected in more than 74% of the samples. Of 754 EV-miRNAs tested, 39 were significantly associated either with MEP, MBzP, MCOMOP, MCOMHP and/or with mECPP, after adjusting for multiple testing (P < 0.05). KEGG-based pathway enrichment analysis of the genes regulated by these miRNAs showed that these EV-miRNAs may be involved in pathways related to ovary or oocyte development, maturation and fertilization.Limitations, reasons for cautionThe use of miRNA panel array limits the number of potential relevant miRNAs. Moreover, several of the phthalate metabolites examined may be biased due to internal (enzymatic activity) or external (contamination in medical interventions) causes.Wider implications of the findingsPhthalate metabolites may alter follicular EV-miRNAs profile and thus impair pathways that are involved with oocyte development, maturation and fertilization. Our results contribute to understanding of possible mechanism(s) in which endocrine disruptor chemicals interfere with female fertility.Study funding/competing interestsThis work was supported by the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences [Grant R21-ES024236]; and Environmental Health Fund, Israel [Grant 1301], no competing interests.Trial registration numberN/A.

Project description:BackgroundDefensins represent an important class of antimicrobial peptides. These effector molecules of the innate immune system act as endogenous antibiotics to protect the organism against infections with pathogenic microorganisms. Mammalian defensins are classified into three distinct sub-families (alpha-, beta- and theta-defensins) according to their specific intramolecular disulfide-bond pattern. The peptides exhibit an antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi. Alpha-Defensins are primarily synthesised in neutrophils and intestinal Paneth cells. They play a role in the pathogenesis of intestinal diseases and may regulate the flora of the intestinal tract. An equine intestinal alpha-defensin (DEFA1), the first characterised in the Laurasiatheria, shows a broad antimicrobial spectrum against human and equine pathogens. Here we report a first investigation of the repertoire of equine intestinal alpha-defensins. The equine genome was screened for putative alpha-defensin genes by using known alpha-defensin sequences as matrices. Based on the obtained sequence information, a set of oligonucleotides specific to the alpha-defensin gene-family was designed. The products generated by reverse-transcriptase PCR with cDNA from the small intestine as template were sub-cloned and numerous clones were sequenced.ResultsThirty-eight equine intestinal alpha-defensin transcripts were determined. After translation it became evident that at least 20 of them may code for functional peptides. Ten transcripts lacked matching genomic sequences and for 14 alpha-defensin genes apparently present in the genome no appropriate transcript could be verified. In other cases the same genomic exons were found in different transcripts.ConclusionsThe large repertoire of equine alpha-defensins found in this study points to a particular importance of these peptides regarding animal health and protection from infectious diseases. Moreover, these findings make the horse an excellent species to study biological properties of alpha-defensins. Interestingly, the peptides were not found in other species of the Laurasiatheria to date. Comparison of the obtained transcripts with the genomic sequences in the current assembly of the horse (EquCab2.0) indicates that it is yet not complete and/or to some extent falsely assembled.

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Follicular fluid expression of alpha-defensins and their role in ovulation.

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