Effect of 1,25(OH)₂ vitamin D₃ on cytokine production by endometrial cells of women with repeated implantation failure

Abstract

Repeated implantation failure (RIF) is a worldwide health problem that imposes a great deal of cost on patients and health care system. Vitamin D₃ has been proposed to have positive impact on the process of implantation. The present study was performed to compare the effect of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D₃) on cytokine production by endometrial cells of women with RIF and healthy fertile controls. Whole endometrial cells (WECs) and endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) from RIF and normal fertile women were treated with 1,25(OH)₂D₃. The levels of IL-10, TGF-β, IFNγ, Il-6, IL-8 and IL-17 in culture supernatants were assayed by ELISA. Also, ability of the cells from both groups to produce 1,25(OH)₂D₃ was evaluated and compared. 1,25(OH)₂D₃ down-regulated cytokine production in WECs from both groups except for IL-8 which was upraised. Similar trends were also observed in ESCs except up-regulation of TGF-β in RIF group. Endometrial cells of both groups had comparable capacity to produce 1,25(OH)₂D₃. Based on the minimal differential immunoregulatory effect of vitamin D₃ on endometrial cells from RIF and control women, it may be suggested that circulating levels of maternal vitamin D₃ be the subject of further investigation.

Keywords::

• 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3
• cytokine
• endometrium
• immunomodulation
• implantation failure
• infertility

Declaration of Interest: This research project was financially supported by Research Deputy, TUMS, Tehran, Iran & Research Deputy, Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.