Role of Mucin 1 and Glycodelin A in recurrent implantation failure.

Objective To evaluate and compare the levels of Mucin 1 (MUC-1) and Glycodelin A (GdA) in precisely timed endometrial biopsies and blood samples taken from women with recurrent implantation failure, and women with proven fertility, in a control group. Design Molecular studies in human blood and tissue. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) Women with recurrent implantation failure and women with proven fertility. Intervention(s) Primary endometrial cells and blood samples during the implantation “window” (between day 7 and day 9 after the surge in luteinizing hormone). Main Outcome Measure(s) Expression of MUC-1 and GdA in the human endometrium and in blood during the implantation window were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, MUC-1 and GdA levels in tissue were analyzed by western blot during the same period. Result(s) Both blood and tissue measurements of MUC-1 and GdA were significantly lower in women with recurrent implantation failure than in fertile women during the implantation window. In addition, we found a highly significant correlation between blood vs. tissue measurements of both MUC-1 and GdA. Conclusion(s) The present study reveals that blood and tissue levels of MUC-1 and GdA are much lower in women with RIF, compared with those in fertile women. Receptivity can be evaluated with noninvasive blood sampling, rather than more-invasive endometrium sampling, as the blood and tissue measurements of MUC-1 and GdA are correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]