Abstract

This study determined the association between the levels of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-23 in follicular fluid (FF), as well as their mRNA levels in cumulus cells from infertile women at risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). In this case-controlled study, the control group (n = 40) was infertile women whose partners had male factor infertility, whereas the case group (n = 40) was infertile women at risk of OHSS. IL-17 and IL-23 concentrations in FF were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, whereas the mRNA expression levels of IL-17 and IL-23 of cumulus cells were determined using RT-PCR. Significantly higher levels of IL-17 were seen in the case group (p = 0.04), whereas there was no significant difference in IL-23 concentrations between the two groups (p = 0.3). The mRNA levels of IL-17 and IL-23 showed no significant differences. In the case group, there was a positive significant correlation between the IL-23 concentration in FF and the oocyte maturation rates (p = 0.01). In the case group, the number of follicles, MII oocytes, immature oocytes, fertilized oocytes and number of embryos were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Our findings showed that the mRNA expressions of IL-17 and IL-23 were similar in the two groups, and IL-17 was increased in the case group.