Significance of disorders of proteomic profile of follicular fluid for predicting the effectiveness of in vitro fertilisation in women with infertility
Aim. To study the proteomic profile of follicular fluid in patients with infertility in assisted reproductive technology programs. Methods. The study included women with infertility included in assisted reproductive technology programs: 15 women who had in vitro fertilisation which resulted in pregnancy (group 1) and 16 women with a negative result of this program (group 2). Fractionation of the follicular fluid samples was performed using the sets of special magnetic beads. Proteomic profiling was performed by tandem MALDI-mass-spectrometry. The anti-Müllerian hormone level was measured by ELISA. Results. The study revealed differences in the detectability of follicular fluid proteins with different regulatory properties in patients of groups 1 and 2. With the negative outcome of in vitro fertilisation, expression of a number of proteins involved in the processes of folliculogenesis, ovulation, selection of the dominant follicle, as well as proteins necessary for the development of the zygote and blastula was reduced in females' follicular fluid. Increased expression in women from group 2 was registered for proteins enhancing proteolytic reactions, cell apoptosis, including oocytes, which disrupt the positive action of activin and damage structural and functional state of mitochondria. A definite relationship was found between the level of anti-Müllerian hormone and rate of detection of a number of proteins, in particular protocadherin-2α, cystatin C, betaglycan, prostatic acid phosphatase, and dermicidin. Conclusion. The revealed changes in proteomic profile of the follicular fluid obviously play an important role in the molecular mechanisms that determine the effectiveness of assisted reproductive technologies; the identified differentially expressed proteins can serve as objective markers for predicting the outcomes of in vitro fertilisation.