Infertility is a problem that could be treated by using In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This procedure starts by increasing estrogen levels and then retrieving oocytes. However, studies have showed an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and lung embolism that is correlated with the rising levels of estrogen. Microvesicles, vesicles formed from the cell membrane, increases in number in connection with IVF and diseases such as thrombosis. These vesicles can transport proteins, one of them is fetuin-B. Fetuin-B plays a role in fertilizing the egg by inhibiting ovastacin, a protein that leads to hardening of zona pellucida. Phosphatidylserine, a component of the cell membrane with strong binding capacity to annexin V, has also been studied while investigating VTE. The aim of this project was to analyze the amount of fetuin-B, ovastacin and phosphatidylserine in women undergoing IVF. The study included 55 women where three blood samples were collected from them at different time points. The tests were analyzed using flow cytometry and fluorescent antibodies targeting the proteins in question. The results showed a significant increase in fetuin-B and ovastacin after the treatment where double positive microvesicles (fetuin-B+ ovastacin+) had the highest significant difference, a rise of 78% after the hormone increase. (Fetuin-B+ annexin V+) increased over time, 205% after increasing estrogen levels, while no difference was seen for (ovastacin+ annexin V+). This thesis suggests that fetuin-B is strongly related to fertility and coagulation in women undergoing IVF. The protein has also a noticeable relationship to ovastacin. Most importantly, (fetuin-B+ ovastacin+) was suggested to be a better marker for women’s fertility than the other analyzed parameters.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-481711 |
| Date | January 2022 |
| Creators | Sawas, Hala |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för medicinsk cellbiologi |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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