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| COMMENTARY |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 2 | Page : 161-162 |
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Immunomodulation at the receptor-mediated cell-signalling, molecular level for fertility treatment
Sweta Gupta MBBS, MD (Obs & Gynae, Delhi), MRCOG (London, UK), DFSRH (UK), MSc (Reproduction & Development, UK)
Sr. Consultant, Reproductive medicine & IVF, Medicover Fertility, Delhi, India
| Date of Web Publication | 30-Dec-2016 |
Correspondence Address:
Sweta Gupta
Fellowship in Reproductive medicine & ART (London, UK), Clinical Director and Sr. Consultant, Reproductive Medicine & IVF, A-12, Sector 35, Noida
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2394-4285.196792
How to cite this article:
Gupta S. Immunomodulation at the receptor-mediated cell-signalling, molecular level for fertility treatment. Fertil Sci Res 2015;2:161-2 |
An increase in incidence of infertility has been seen in recent times. Infertility is often associated with significant psychological stress to the couple. Unfortunately, success rate of fertility treatment has not improved dramatically. Targeting biochemical-signalling pathways at the molecular and cellular level is emerging as a treatment strategy, wherein focussed research is required. Individualized immunotherapeutic treatment strategies by targeted manipulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling regulatory network could be quite promising to improve the success rate of fertility treatment.
TLRs[1] are a class of proteins that play a key role in the innate immune system. They are single, membrane-spanning, non-catalytic receptors usually expressed as macrophages and dendritic cells, which recognize structurally conserved molecules derived from microbes. TLRs are now counted among the key molecules that alert the immune system to the presence of microbial infections. They were named so in 1985 because of their similarity to the protein coded by the toll gene identified in Drosophila. Female reproductive tract is in close contact with allogenic sperms and transmitted microorganisms during intercourse and with semi-allogenic foetus during pregnancy.[2] Zandieh et al.[3] described TLRs as one of the main components of the innate immune system.
Poor ovarian response (POR) to gonadotropin stimulation has led to a significant decline in the success rate of fertility treatment. The immune system may play an important role in pathophysiology of POR by dysfunctions of cytokines and the growth factor network, and the presence of ovarian auto-antibodies.[4] Taghavi et al.[4] investigated the expression of Toll-like receptors and cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 genes in follicular cells and concentration of interleukin and macrophage migration inhibitory factor, as major parts of innate immunity, in follicular fluid obtained from POR women in comparison with normal women. TLR and COX2 gene expression were found to be significantly higher in POR. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) coordinate with a diverse array of cellular programs through the transcriptional regulation of immunologically relevant genes and play an important role in immune system, reproductive physiology and basic pathology. Alterations in the functions of TLR2, IFN-γ and signalling molecules that result from polymorphisms are often associated with susceptibility or resistance, which may, in turn, establish the innate host response to the various infectious diseases.[5]
There are different areas in infertility wherein receptor-based cell signalling could be primarily responsible for reproductive disorders like oocyte maturation, sperm function, pre-embryo morphology, genital infections, impaired endometrial implantation, etc. Molecular biology research-oriented experimental studies are required in the future. The article "Dissecting Toll-like Receptor Molecular Regulatory Network(s) in Reproductive Medicine, Primarily Infertility: A Snapshot" is an interesting article and will encourage researchers to do further studies on this topic. Hopefully, it will be a step towards the next level of advancement by providing personalized immunotherapeutic treatment.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | |
| 2. | Aflatoonian R. Female infertility: Reproduction and toll like receptors (TLRS). Int J Fertil Steril 2011;5(Suppl 1):14-5.  |
| 3. | Zandieh Z, Amjadi F, Ashrafi M, Aflatoonian A, Fazeli A, Aflatoonian R. The effect of estradiol and progesterone on Toll like receptor gene expression in a human fallopian tube epithelial cell line. Cell J 2016;17:678-91. |
| 4. | Taghavi SA, Ashrafi M, Mehdizadeh M, Karimian L, Joghataie MT, Aflatoonian R. Toll-like receptors expression in follicular cells of patients with poor ovarian response. Int J Fertil Steril 2014;8:183-92. |
| 5. | Bhanothu V, Lakshmi V, Theophilus JP, Rozati R, Badhini P, Vijayalaxmi B. Investigation of Toll-like receptor-2 (2258G/A) and interferon gamma (+874T/A) gene polymorphisms among infertile women with female genital tuberculosis. PLoS One 2015 Jun 26;10(6):e0130273. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130273. eCollection 2015. |
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