Frontiers in Immunology (Jun 2021)

Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor in Single Blastocyst Conditioned Medium as a Biomarker for Predicting Implantation Outcome of Embryo

  • Peilin Chen,
  • Chunyu Huang,
  • Chunyu Huang,
  • Qing Sun,
  • Huixian Zhong,
  • Feng Xiong,
  • Su Liu,
  • Zhihong Yao,
  • Zhiqiang Liu,
  • Caiyun Wan,
  • Yong Zeng,
  • Lianghui Diao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.679839
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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BackgroundIt is highly desirable to develop new strategies based on secretomics to more accurately selection of embryos with the highest developmental potential for transfer. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has been reported to promote embryo development and pregnancy establishment. However, the predictive value of GM-CSF in single blastocyst selection remains unclear. This study is to determine the concentration of GM-CSF in human single-blastocyst conditioned medium (SBCM) and to evaluate its association with embryo quality and pregnancy outcome.MethodsThe patients with ≤38 years of age receiving the first cycle of assisted reproductive therapy were included in this study. The patients who had <4 top-quality embryos formed by the fertilized two pronuclear zygotes on day 3 were excluded. A total of 126 SBCM samples (SBCMs) were included, of which blastocysts from 77 SBCMs were later transferred in subsequent frozen-thawed embryo transfer. The concentrations of GM-CSF were detected by single-molecule array (SIMOA) and analyzed for their possible association with embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes. The top-quality embryo (TQ), positive HCG (HP), clinical pregnancy (CP), and ongoing pregnancy (OP) rates were determined and compared between groups divided based on GM-CSF concentrations.ResultsThe detection rate of GM-CSF was found to be 50% in all SBCMs. There were significant differences in TQ rate, HP rate, CP rate and OP rate among high concentration group, medium concentration group and low concentration group. Both GM-CSF alone or GM-CSF combined with the morphological score (MS) had a greater AUC of ROC curve than that of MS alone to predict the pregnancy outcome, and GM-CSF combined with MS had the highest AUC.ConclusionsThe concentration of GM-CSF in SBCM was detected at fg/ml levels, which was associated with embryo quality and pregnancy outcome. Collectively, GM-CSF may be used as a biomarker for prediction of pregnancy outcome and selection of embryos with high developmental potential for transfer in assisted reproductive technology (ART).

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