Women with high telomerase activity in luteinised granulosa cells have a higher pregnancy rate during in vitro fertilisation treatment

Objective

To study the effect of telomerase activity (TA) in human luteinised granulosa cells (GCs) on the outcome of in vitro fertilisation treatment.

Methods

Fifty-six women, aged 23 to 39 years, were enrolled and divided into four groups according to their levels of TA.

Results

Seventeen cases in group A exhibited nondetectable TA, 16 cases in group B expressed low levels of TA (between 0.1 and 0.65 OD × mm), 14 cases in group C expressed moderate TA levels (between 0.66 and 1.00 OD × mm) and 9 cases in group D expressed high levels of TA (more than 1.00 OD × mm). The level of total serum testosterone (T) was significantly higher in groups C and D than in group A (1.43 ± 0.10 vs. 1.08 ± 0.11 nmol/L, P < 0.030 and 1.56 ± 0.08 vs. 1.08 ± 0.11 nmol/L, P < 0.005, respectively). The TA level was positively correlated with T (r = 0.291, P < 0.011). No obvious differences were observed in rates of fertilisation, cleavage, mature oocyte formation or good-quality embryos among the groups. The patients in group D exhibited the highest rates of embryo implantation and clinical pregnancy (with rates of 52.63% and 77.78%, respectively, compared with 18.92% and 29.41% in group A, 25.71% and 37.50% in group B and 48% and 50% in group C, with P < 0.018 and P = 0.112, respectively). The patients in group D also had a greater likelihood of becoming pregnant than those in group A (OR: 9.703, P < 0.023), group B (OR: 14.765, P < 0.009) or group C (OR: 5.560, P = 0.103).

Conclusions

Luteinised GCs have a certain potential for proliferation and TA of luteinised GCs may predict the clinical outcomes of IVF treatment. Some unknown regulatory mechanisms between TA and T should be studied in further trials.