TY - JOUR
T1 - Soluble HLA-G and TGF-β in couples attending assisted reproduction – A possible role of TGF-β isoforms in semen?
AU - Nilsson, Line Lynge
AU - Hornstrup, Micha B.
AU - Perin, Trine L.
AU - Lindhard, Anette
AU - Funck, Tina
AU - Bjerrum, Poul J.
AU - Mule, Henriette Theilmann
AU - Scheike, Thomas
AU - Nielsen, Henriette Svarre
AU - Hviid, Thomas Vauvert F.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Soluble isoforms of the non-classical Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-G as well as Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β is expressed in seminal plasma possibly influencing the pregnancy potential. We wanted to examine the association of seminal plasma sHLA-G, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGFβ3 with pregnancy success in a cohort of 127 couples and 4 single women attending fertility treatment with the use of assisted reproduction technologies (ART). Soluble HLA-G, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 in seminal plasma did not fluctuate significantly over time. We did not find any impact of seminal plasma sHLA-G, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 on time-to-pregnancy measured as number of treatment cycles. There was a significant association between concentrations of seminal plasma sHLA-G and HLA-G variations in the 3’untranslated region (3’UTR) of the HLA-G gene, supporting and extending previous findings. Furthermore, by comparing seminal plasma concentrations of sHLA-G, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 in male subjects with reduced semen quality, male subjects with normal semen quality, and sperm donors, we found that TGF-β2 was significantly lower, and TGF-β3 was significantly higher, in seminal plasma from sperm donors. These findings suggest that TGF-β isoforms may influence semen quality and fertility.
AB - Soluble isoforms of the non-classical Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-G as well as Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β is expressed in seminal plasma possibly influencing the pregnancy potential. We wanted to examine the association of seminal plasma sHLA-G, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGFβ3 with pregnancy success in a cohort of 127 couples and 4 single women attending fertility treatment with the use of assisted reproduction technologies (ART). Soluble HLA-G, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 in seminal plasma did not fluctuate significantly over time. We did not find any impact of seminal plasma sHLA-G, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 on time-to-pregnancy measured as number of treatment cycles. There was a significant association between concentrations of seminal plasma sHLA-G and HLA-G variations in the 3’untranslated region (3’UTR) of the HLA-G gene, supporting and extending previous findings. Furthermore, by comparing seminal plasma concentrations of sHLA-G, TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 in male subjects with reduced semen quality, male subjects with normal semen quality, and sperm donors, we found that TGF-β2 was significantly lower, and TGF-β3 was significantly higher, in seminal plasma from sperm donors. These findings suggest that TGF-β isoforms may influence semen quality and fertility.
KW - ART
KW - HLA-G
KW - Infertility
KW - Reproduction
KW - TGF-β
U2 - 10.1016/j.jri.2019.102857
DO - 10.1016/j.jri.2019.102857
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31837543
AN - SCOPUS:85076165445
SN - 0165-0378
VL - 137
JO - Journal of Reproductive Immunology
JF - Journal of Reproductive Immunology
M1 - 102857
ER -