Journal Article

Anti-oxidative function of follicular fluid HDL and outcomes of modified natural cycle-IVF

Homminga, Irene, van Montfoort, Aafke P. A., Andrei, Daniela, Mistry, Rima H., Hoek, Annemieke, Groen, Henk, Tietge, Uwe J. F., Nagy, Ruxandra A., Anderson, Josephine L. C.

2019

Overview

High density lipoproteins (HDL) are the main cholesterol carriers in follicular fluid (FF), the natural environment of oocyte development. Additionally, HDL have critical biological functions such as anti-oxidative capacity, which have not been studied in reproduction. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether the anti-oxidative function of FF-HDL is associated with fertility outcomes. From 253 women undergoing modified natural cycle (MNC)- IVF at a single academic centre FF and plasma were collected (n = 375 cycles). Anti-oxidative function of FF was mainly attributable to HDL (n = 8; 83%). FF-HDL had a higher anti-oxidative function than plasma HDL (n = 19, P < 0.001) coinciding with increased vitamin E and sphingosine 1 phosphate content (P = 0.028 each). Proteomic analysis indicated no significant differences in major anti-oxidative proteins such as paraoxonase 1, apolipoprotein (apo) A-I or apoA-IV between FF-HDL and matched plasma-HDL (n = 5), while apoC-III, apoE and apoC-II were relatively lower in FF-HDL. Finally, FF-HDL anti-oxidative function was related to a decrease in the odds of the oocyte undergoing normal fertilization, an association that persisted after adjustment for confounders (odds ratio 0.97 (0.93–1), P = 0.041). In conclusion, FF-HDL has considerable anti-oxidative properties that might be relevant for embryo quality.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 692/163/2743/2730 / 692/53/2423 / Adult / Antioxidants - pharmacology / Apolipoprotein E / Apolipoproteins / Cholesterol / Embryo, Mammalian - drug effects / Embryo, Mammalian - metabolism / Embryonic Development - drug effects / Embryos / Female / Fertility / Fertilization / Fertilization in Vitro / Follicular fluid / Follicular Fluid - metabolism / Gynecology / High density lipoprotein / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / In vitro fertilization / Infertility / Laboratories / Lipoproteins / Lipoproteins, HDL - metabolism / Metabolism / Metabolites / multidisciplinary / Natural environment / Obstetrics / Oocytes - drug effects / Oocytes - metabolism / Oxidative stress / Paraoxonase / Paraoxonase 1 / Patients / Plasma / Pregnancy / Proteins / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Vitamin E