Anti-laminin-1 antibodies in serum and follicular fluid of women with Hashimoto's thyroiditis undergoing in vitro fertilization

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of anti-laminin-1 antibodies (aLN-1) in sera and follicular fluid (FF) of infertile women affected by Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and its impact on oocyte maturation and IVF outcome. aLN-1 were measured by a home-made enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in: (1) sera and FF from 44 infertile women affected by HT (HTIW) with tubal factor or male factor as primary cause of infertility; (2) in sera and FF from 28 infertile women without HT, with tubal factor or male factor as cause of infertility (infertile controls-ICTR); and (3) in sera from 50 fertile women (FW). aLN-1 serum levels were significantly higher in HTIW when compared with both fertile women and ICTR (P <0.001and P <0.01, respectively). Assuming as cutoff the 99th percentile of values obtained in sera of FW, 43.2% of HTIW and 3.6% of ICTR were aLN-1 positive (P = 0.0001). Also aLN-1 detected in FF from HTIW were significantly higher in comparison with those found in FF of ICTR (P = 0.006). In HTIW, metaphase II oocyte count showed inverse correlation with both serum and FF aLN-1 levels (r = 0.34, P = 0.02 and r = 0.33, P = 0.03, respectively). Implantation and pregnancy rates were significantly lower in HTIW (7.9% and 9.1%, respectively) when compared with ICTR (23% and 31.1%, respectively) (P = 0.015 and P = 0.03, respectively). Our results demonstrated for the first time the presence of aLN-1 in a relevant percentage of HTIW and suggest that these auto-antibodies may impair IVF outcome.

Keywords: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis; anti-laminin-1 Ab; in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome.

Figure 1.

IgG-aLN-1 levels detected by ELISA in sera from 50 fertile women (FW), 44 infertile women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HTIW), and 28 infertile controls (ICTR). The data are depicted as box-plot diagrams, with the box encompassing the range of values from the 25th percentile (lower bar) to the 75th percentile (upper bar). The horizontal line within the box represents the median, and the vertical lines represent maximum and minimum values.

Figure 2.

IgG-aLN-1 levels detected by ELISA in follicular fluids from 44 infertile women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HTIW) and 28 infertile controls (ICTR). The data are depicted as box-plot diagrams, with the box encompassing the range of values from the 25th percentile (lower bar) to the 75th percentile (upper bar). The horizontal line within the box represents the median, and the vertical lines represent maximum and minimum values.

Figure 3.

(a) Positive correlation detected between serum IgG-aLN-1 levels and FF IgG-aLN-1 levels in 44 infertile women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HTIW). (b) Positive correlation detected between serum IgG-aLN-1 levels and FF IgG-aLN-1 levels in 28 infertile controls (ICTR).

Figure 4.

(a) Inverse correlation between IgG-aLN-1 levels detected in sera from 44 infertile women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HTIW) and MII oocyte count. (b) Inverse correlation between IgG-aLN-1 levels detected in follicular fluids from 44 HTIW and MII oocyte count.