P–314 Serum Stem Cell Factor as a predictor of top quality blasotcysts formation in women with endometriosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Liss ◽  
M Kuczynska ◽  
A Knight ◽  
K Lukaszuk

Abstract Study question To evaluate the correlation between the serum level of stem cell factor (s-SCF) during the stimulation and results of embryo culture. Summary answer The serum SCF concentration at the stimulation stage may be a potential predictor of IVF outcome in endometriosis patients. What is known already Stem cell factor (SCF) is a pleiotropic cytokine that affects the target cells via the c-kit receptor, a tyrosine kinase receptor. Recent evidence indicates that SCF and c-kit may play a role in regulation and growth of ovarian follicular function. It is unclear whether endometriosis primarily affects in vitro fertilization outcomes via oocyte quality. SCF is produced during the human follicular phase, immediately before the ovulatory phase, and may play an important role in folliculogenesis and in the mechanism of ovulation. It may reflect a successful stimulation with ample follicle maturation. Study design, size, duration This was a prospective case-control study and consisted four group of patients: 10 with endometriosis, 24 PCOs, 20 with normal (AMH 1.2–4.0 ng/ml) and 11 with lower (AMH<1.2 ng/ml) ovary reserve who were undergoing IVF treatment with the assessment of serum SCF concentration between August 2019 and March 2020 at INVICTA Fertility Centre, Poland. The age of the patients ranged from 22 to 42 years (median 34 years). Participants/materials, setting, methods s-SCF was measured in duplicate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit in 195 serum samples collected during ovarian stimulation on days 1 and 8 and on the day of oocyte retrieval. We analysed correlation between s-SCF level and formation of top quality (TQ) blastocysts on day 5 formation in the study groups. Main results and the role of chance We have compared mean level of s-SCF within each group dividing the patients into two subgroups – those with at least one TQ blastocyst (TQ) on day 5 vs. those with no TQ blastocysts (no-TQ). There were no significant differences in mean s-SCF level on day 1 of stimulation between no-TQ and TQ patients in PCOs, normal and lower ovary reserve groups (41.1 pg/ml vs. 40.9 pg/ml; 34.8 pg/ml vs. 38.9 pg/ml and 32.3pg/ml vs. 28.7 pg/ml respectively). The mean level of s-SCF in endometriosis patients was higher in case of no-TQ compared to the TQ subgroup and were 41.1 pg/ml and 29.1 pg/ml respectively. Also no significant differences were also observed in the mean level of s-SCF in the no-TQ and TQ subgroups on the 8 day of stimulation and pick-up in PCOs, normal and lower ovary reserve patients. However, again in the case of endometriosis patients, the mean level of s-SCF was significantly lower on the 8 day of stimulation (28.1 pg/ml vs. 49.1 pg/ml; p < 0.05) and pick-up day (33.4 pg/ml vs. 50.4 pg/ml; p < 0.005) in samples from patients who had at least one TQ blastocysts on day 5 of culture. Limitations, reasons for caution More data are required to confirm the corelation of s-SCF level and presence of top quality blastocysts in patients with endometriosis. Wider implications of the findings: Our study suggests that the level of serum SCF during ovarian stimulation in patients with endometriosis of less 30 pg/ml may potentially be a predictor for the chance of obtaining at least one top quality blastocyst on day 5 and thus a chance to successful treatment. Trial registration number Not applicable

Reproduction ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 134 (6) ◽  
pp. 757-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiongjiong Tu ◽  
Liqing Fan ◽  
Ke Tao ◽  
Wenbing Zhu ◽  
Jianjun Li ◽  
...  

The stem cell factor (SCF), binding its tyrosine kinase receptor c-Kit, has been shown to play essential roles in the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of germline cells. However, few reports are available about the effect of SCF on the development of human gonocytes within the fetal testis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether SCF affects the biological behaviors of human gonocytes before or after they enter the mitotic arrest stage. Employing an organ culture system, we observed that addition of exogenous SCF could influence the morphology of human gonocytesin vitro. Moreover, SCF was able to trigger the colony formation of round gonocytes, which were characterized positive for alkaline phosphatase activity, Oct-4, SSEA-4, and c-Kit as well. We found that SCF exerted actions in a dose- and age-dependent manner, although the stimulatory effect lasted no more than 14 days. We also showed that SCF played a role in suppressing the apoptosis of human gonocytes. Blocking of SCF signaling with either phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor resulted in similar apoptotic features as well as the SCF-withdrawal cultures. Taken together, we report that SCF acts as a potent regulator in the fate determination of human gonocytes. Our studies should form the basis forin vitrostudies and facilitate investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying this unique stage.


1999 ◽  
Vol 339 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-434
Author(s):  
J. Greg DOHENY ◽  
Eric J. JERVIS ◽  
M. Marta GUARNA ◽  
R. Keith HUMPHRIES ◽  
R. Antony J. WARREN ◽  
...  

A chimaera of stem cell factor (SCF) and a cellulose-binding domain from the xylanase Cex (CBDCex) effectively immobilizes SCF on a cellulose surface. The fusion protein retains both the cytokine properties of SCF and the cellulose-binding characteristics of CBDCex. When adsorbed on cellulose, SCF–CBDCex is up to 7-fold more potent than soluble SCF–CBDCex and than native SCF at stimulating the proliferation of factor-dependent cell lines. When cells are incubated with cellulose-bound SCF–CBDCex, activated receptors and SCF–CBDCex co-localize on the cellulose matrix. The strong binding of SCF–CBDCex to the cellulose surface permits the effective and localized stimulation of target cells; this is potentially significant for long-term perfusion culturing of factor-dependent cells. It also permits the direct analysis of the effects of surface-bound cytokines on target cells.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-52
Author(s):  
Md Shariful Alam Jilani ◽  
Tang Thean Hock ◽  
Sraboni Mazumder ◽  
Fahmida Rahman ◽  
Md Mohiuddin ◽  
...  

Background and objectives: Several types of Burkholderia pseudomallei antigens have been used to determine the antibody response in acute and asymptomatic cases. In the present study, we have detected immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to recombinant truncated flagellin antigen (RTFA) of B. pseudomallei in the sera of acute melioidosis cases and healthy individuals from melioidosis endemic areas of Bangladesh by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In parallel, IgG antibody to sonicated whole cell antigen (SWCA) of B. pseudomallei was determined to compare with anti-RTFA antibody. Methodology: Serum samples from culture confirmed melioidosis cases and from healthy individuals aged 21 years and above residing in melioidosis endemic rural areas were included in the study. Serum IgG antibody to RTFA and SWCA of B. pseudomallei was determined by indirect ELISA. Results: Out of 8 culture confirmed acute melioidosis cases, 7 (87.5%) and 8 (100%) were positive for anti-B. pseudomallei IgG antibodies by RTFA and SWCA methods respectively. Among 361 healthy individuals, the rate of seropositivity by RTFA-ELISA was significantly less than that of SWCA-ELISA (16.1% versus 26.8%; p = 0.001). The mean optical density (OD) of RTFA-ELISA of positive cases was significantly less than that of SWCA-ELISA in both melioidosis and healthy individuals (0.79±0.11 versus 2.4±0.08, p = 0.0001; 0.67±0.01 versus 1.27±0.02, p = 0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity of RTFA-ELISA were 88.9% and 100% respectively. Conclusion: Findings of the study suggest that multiple or combination of antigens should be used to study the seroprevalence of B. pseudomallei infection in a community. Also, prospective study is necessary to find out the duration of persistence of antibodies to different antigenic components of B. pseudomallei after exposure. Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2020; 14(1): 47-52


1992 ◽  
Vol 175 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
B K Wershil ◽  
M Tsai ◽  
E N Geissler ◽  
K M Zsebo ◽  
S J Galli

Interactions between products of the mouse W locus, which encodes the c-kit tyrosine kinase receptor, and the Sl locus, which encodes a ligand for c-kit receptor, which we have designated stem cell factor (SCF), have a critical role in the development of mast cells. Mice homozygous for mutations at either locus exhibit several phenotypic abnormalities including a virtual absence of mast cells. Moreover, the c-kit ligand SCF can induce the proliferation and maturation of normal mast cells in vitro or in vivo, and also can result in repair of the mast cell deficiency of Sl/Sld mice in vivo. We now report that administration of SCF intradermally in vivo results in dermal mast cell activation and a mast cell-dependent acute inflammatory response. This effect is c-kit receptor dependent, in that it is not observed when SCF is administered to mice containing dermal mast cells expressing functionally inactive c-kit receptors, is observed with both glycosylated and nonglycosylated forms of SCF, and occurs at doses of SCF at least 10-fold lower on a molar basis than the minimally effective dose of the classical dermal mast cell-activating agent substance P. These findings represent the first demonstration in vivo that a c-kit ligand can result in the functional activation of any cellular lineage expressing the c-kit receptor, and suggest that interactions between the c-kit receptor and its ligand may influence mast cell biology through complex effects on proliferation, maturation, and function.


2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Yan ◽  
J. Suominen ◽  
J. Toppari

Stem cell factor (SCF) plays an important role in migration, adhesion, proliferation, and survival of primordial germ cells and spermatogonia during testicular development. However, the function of SCF in the adult testis is poorly described. We have previously shown that, in the presence of SCF, there were more type A spermatogonia incorporating thymidine at stage XII of rat seminiferous tubules cultured in vitro than in the absence of SCF, implying that the increased DNA synthesis might result from enhanced survival of spermatogonia. To explore the potential pro-survival function of SCF during spermatogenesis, the seminiferous tubules from stage XII were cultured in the presence or absence of SCF (100 ng/ml) for 8, 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively, and apoptosis was analyzed by DNA laddering and in situ 3′-end labeling (ISEL) staining. Surprisingly, not only spermatogonia, but also spermatocytes and spermatids, were protected from apoptosis in the presence of SCF. Apoptosis took place much later and was less severe in the SCF-treated tubules than in the controls. Based on previous studies showing that FSH prevents germ cells from undergoing apoptosis in vitro, and that SCF level is increased dramatically in response to FSH stimulation, we also tested if the pro-survival effect of FSH is mediated through SCF by using a function-blocking monoclonal antibody, ACK-2, to block SCF/c-kit interaction. After 24 hours of blockade, the protective effect of FSH was partially abolished, as manifested by DNA laddering and ISEL analyses. The present study demonstrates that SCF acts as an important survival factor for germ cells in the adult rat testis and FSH pro-survival effect on germ cells is mediated partially through the SCF/c-kit pathway.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-563
Author(s):  
Charles Guest ◽  
Kenneth C. Spitalny ◽  
H. Paul Madore ◽  
Katherine Pray ◽  
Raphael Dolin ◽  
...  

In 1984, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred at a school with 1,860 students in Brooklyn, NY. In a single-stage cluster sample of 375 students, 129 (34%) had illnesses that met our case definition of vomiting or diarrhea. The mean incubation period was 26 hours, and the mean illness duration was 24 hours. All case students had eaten in the cafeteria on at least one day between Nov 13 and 16, compared with 174/214 (81%) noncase students (P = 10-8, Fisher exact test). Foods implicated were french fries (relative risk 1.7, 95% confidence limits 1.4, 2.0) and hamburgers (relative risk 1.6, 95%, confidence limits 1.2, 2.1). Two cafeteria employees had served those foods while affected by diarrhea. By a recently developed blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, six of 11 (55%) case students showed fourfold antibody increases between acute-and convalescent-phase serum samples for Snow Mountain agent, a Norwalk-like virus, compared with one of ten (10%) noncase students (P = .04, Fisher exact test). We strongly suspect, but cannot document conclusively, that the Snow Mountain agent was spread to students on a vector of hot foods contaminated by ill food handlers. Implicated foods conferred low relative risks and could only have accounted for 74% of cases of illness. The strong association between cafeteria exposure and illness, therefore, suggests that additional modes of spread occurred.


Development ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 1089-1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pesce ◽  
M.G. Farrace ◽  
M. Piacentini ◽  
S. Dolci ◽  
M. De Felici

Proliferating primordial germ cells (PGCs) isolated from mouse embryos soon after their arrival in the genital ridges would only survive in vitro at temperature of less than 30 degrees C (De Felici, M. and McLaren, A. (1983). Exp. Cell. Res. 144, 417–427; Wabik-Sliz, B. and McLaren, A. (1984). Exp. Cell. Res. 154, 530–536) or when co-cultured on cell feeder layers (Donovan, P. J., Stott, D., Godin, I., Heasman, J. and Wylie, C. C. (1986). Cell 44, 831–838; De Felici, M. and Dolci, S. (1991). Dev. Biol. 147, 281–284). In the present paper we report that mouse PGC death in vitro occurs with all the hallmarks of programmed cell death or apoptosis. We found that after 4–5 hours in culture many PGCs isolated from 12.5 dpc fetal gonads assumed a nuclear morphology and produced membrane bound fragments (apoptotic bodies) typical of apoptotic cells. In addition, PGCs in culture accumulated high level of tissue transglutaminase (tTGase; an enzyme that is induced and activated during apoptosis) and showed extensive degradation of DNA to oligonucleosomal fragments, which is characteristic of apoptosis. The physiological relevance of this mechanism of PGC death is supported by the finding that some PGCs undergoing apoptosis, as revealed by the high level of tTGase expression, were detected in the embryo. Most importantly, we show that the addition of stem cell factor (SCF) or leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) to the culture medium, two cytokines known to favour PGC survival and/or proliferation in vitro, markedly reduced the occurrence of apoptosis in PGCs during the first hours in culture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 92 (10) ◽  
pp. 3658-3668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Panzenböck ◽  
Petr Bartunek ◽  
Markus Y. Mapara ◽  
Martin Zenke

Abstract Stem cell factor (SCF) and erythropoietin (Epo) effectively support erythroid cell development in vivo and in vitro. We have studied here an SCF/Epo-dependent erythroid progenitor cell from cord blood that can be efficiently amplified in liquid culture to large cell numbers in the presence of SCF, Epo, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), dexamethasone, and estrogen. Additionally, by changing the culture conditions and by administration of Epo plus insulin, such progenitor cells effectively undergo terminal differentiation in culture and thereby faithfully recapitulate erythroid cell differentiation in vitro. This SCF/Epo-dependent erythroid progenitor is also present in CD34+ peripheral blood stem cells and human bone marrow and can be isolated, amplified, and differentiated in vitro under the same conditions. Thus, highly homogenous populations of SCF/Epo-dependent erythroid progenitors can be obtained in large cell numbers that are most suitable for further biochemical and molecular studies. We demonstrate that such cells express the recently identified adapter protein p62dok that is involved in signaling downstream of the c-kit/SCF receptor. Additionally, cells express the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors p21cip1 and p27kip1 that are highly induced when cells differentiate. Thus, the in vitro system described allows the study of molecules and signaling pathways involved in proliferation or differentiation of human erythroid cells.


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