Antibodies against Granulosa Luteinized Cells and their Targets in Women Attending IVF Program

Problem:  The study was conducted to investigate the presence and the possible role of anti-granulosa luteinized cells (GLCs) antibodies in infertile patients, attending in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, as well as to attempt the identification of putative target antigens. Method of study:  A total of 101 sera from infertile women (patient group) and 33 sera from fertile women (control group) were investigated. The patients were divided in subgroups according to: • ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COHS) – poor responders and good responders; • fertilization rate – low fertilization rate and high fertilization rate. The relation between embryo transfer (ET) outcome and prevalence of anti-GLC antibodies was investigated too. NONIDET P-40 (NP-40) and whole-GLC lysates, as antigenic materials, were used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting, respectively. Results:  Based on the cut-off value of 2 S.D. above the control mean value, the prevalence of patients positive for anti-GLC antibodies was found to be 28.7% (29/101) compared with 9.1% (3/33) in control fertile women (P < 0.05). Anti-GLC antibodies were detected in 54.8% (17/31) of women with low fertilization rate compared with 15.7% (11/70) of women with high fertilization rate (P = 0.003) and it was established that women positive for anti-GLC antibodies had lower fertilization rate, than those negative for anti-GLC antibodies. Immunoblotting has demonstrated a number of GLC proteins with molecular masses (MM) of 110, 70–80, 47 and 37 kDa, frequently reacting with anti-GLC antibodies in patient's sera, as possible targets. Conclusion:  The presented results on the prevalence and role of anti-GLC antibodies, as well as the data on the target antigens confirmed our hypothesis about the potential involvement of GLC antigens in some cases of immunological infertility in IVF patients.