@article{3086574,
    title = "Interleukin 15 concentrations in follicular fluid and their effect on oocyte maturation in subfertile women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection",
    author = "Spanou, S. and Kalogiannis, D. and Zapanti, E. and Gazouli, M. and Sfontouris, I.A. and Siristatidis, C. and Mastorakos, G.",
    journal = "Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics",
    year = "2018",
    volume = "35",
    number = "6",
    pages = "1019-1025",
    publisher = "Springer New York LLC",
    issn = "1058-0468, 1573-7330",
    doi = "10.1007/s10815-018-1170-0",
    keywords = "chorionic gonadotropin;  clomifene citrate;  gonadorelin antagonist;  gonadotropin;  interleukin 15;  letrozole;  recombinant follitropin;  IL15 protein, human;  interleukin 15, adult;  Article;  body mass;  clinical assessment;  clinical evaluation;  concentration process;  cross-sectional study;  enzyme linked immunosorbent assay;  female;  female subfertility;  human;  intracytoplasmic sperm injection;  major clinical study;  oocyte;  oocyte maturation;  oocyte retrieval;  outcome assessment;  ovary follicle fluid;  pregnancy;  priority journal;  cohort analysis;  female infertility;  in vitro oocyte maturation;  metabolism;  middle aged;  oocyte development;  ovary follicle fluid;  ovulation induction;  pathophysiology;  pregnancy outcome;  young adult, Adult;  Cohort Studies;  Cross-Sectional Studies;  Female;  Follicular Fluid;  Humans;  In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques;  Infertility, Female;  Interleukin-15;  Middle Aged;  Oogenesis;  Ovulation Induction;  Pregnancy;  Pregnancy Outcome;  Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic;  Young Adult",
    abstract = "Purpose: To calculate the concentrations of interleukin 15 (IL-15) in follicular fluid (FF) and evaluate their relation with oocyte maturation, follicle size, and patients’ body mass index (BMI) and age. Methods: Follicular fluid specimens were obtained from 56 subfertile women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) during oocyte retrieval for measurement of IL-15 concentrations with ELISA. Wilcoxon’s test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to correlate FF concentrations of IL-15 with follicular size and stage of oocyte maturation, along with patients’ BMI and age. Results: IL-15 concentrations in FF of follicles with immature oocytes were significantly greater than those from follicles with mature ones (median 5.333 vs. 3.250 pg/ml, respectively, p < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between IL-15 concentrations and follicle size (r = − 0.333, p = 0.003). No significant correlation was observed between IL-15 concentrations and patients’ BMI and age (p > 0.05). Conclusions: IL-15 concentrations in FF are adversely related with the size of the follicles and the maturity of the corresponding retrieved oocytes in a cohort of expected normal responders undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Follicular fluid concentrations of IL-15 should be investigated as a possible predictive factor for oocyte maturity. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature."
}