Poor ovarian response in assisted reproductive technology cycles is associated with anti-ovarian antibody and pro-inflammatory immune responses

Anti-ovarian antibody (AOA) could be considered an independent marker for autoimmune ovarian disease and predicting future premature ovarian failure (POF). This study aims to investigate if AOA is associated with poor ovarian response (POR) and pro-inflammatory immune responses in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles. Two hundred forty-eight women undergoing ART cycles were divided into four groups based on AOA test results and the presence of POR: POR(-)/AOA(-) group (N = 148), POR(+)/AOA(-) group (N = 34), POR (-)/AOA(+) group (N = 44), POR(+)/AOA(+) group (N = 22). The POR patients have a significantly higher prevalence of AOA than non-POR patients (P < 0.05). Peripheral blood CD56 + natural killer (NK) cell level (%), NK cytotoxicity, CD19 +CD5 + B-1 cell level (%), and IFN-γ/IL-10 producing T helper (Th) 1/Th2 cell ratios were significantly higher in POR(+)/AOA(+) group than those of other groups (P < 0.001, P < 0.005, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). TNF-α/IL-10 producing Th1/Th2 cell ratio of POR(+)/AOA(+) group was significantly higher than those of POR(+)/AOA(-) and POR(-)/AOA(-) groups (P < 0.05, respectively). Homocysteine and vitamin D levels of the POR(+)/AOA(+) group were significantly lower than those of other groups (P < 0.005, respectively). Plasminogen activator inhibiter-1 (PAI-1) level of POR(+)/AOA(+) group was significantly higher than that of POR(-)/AOA(-) group (P < 0.05). In the POR(+)/AOA(+) group, the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies was significantly higher than that of the POR(+)/AOA(-) group (P = 0.005). Women with autoimmune POR (POR(+)/AOA(+)) have dysregulated pro-inflammatory immune responses and metabolic factors. The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for autoimmune POR should be differentiated from those for non-autoimmune POR.