Journal of International Reproductive Health/Family Planning ›› 2024, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (5): 353-360.doi: 10.12280/gjszjk.20240349

• Original Article •     Next Articles

Associations between Phthalates Exposure and Inflammatory Cytokines in Ovarian Microenvironment

XIAO Nan, LI Yong-cheng, YAO Yi-ming, SUN Hong-wen, YAO Ru-qiang, CHEN Yong-jun, YIN Yu-chen, LUO Hai-ning()   

  1. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Human Development and Reproductive Regulation, Tianjin 300100, China (XIAO Nan, YAO Ru-qiang, YIN Yu-chen, LUO Hai-ning); College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Tianjin 300350, China (LI Yong-cheng, YAO Yi-ming, SUN Hong-wen); Clinical School of Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300270, China (CHEN Yong-jun)
  • Received:2024-07-22 Published:2024-09-15 Online:2024-09-19
  • Contact: LUO Hai-ning E-mail:luohn163@163.com

Abstract:

Objective: To assess the associations between phthalates (PAEs) exposure and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the ovarian microenvironment. Methods: 64 females who were undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) from April to December in 2020 were included in this cross-sectional study. The levels of 10 kinds of phthalate metabolites (mPAEs) and 2 kinds factors in follicular fluid were measured. Multivariable linear regression model and further stratified analysis by age were conducted to analyze the associations between mPAEs and inflammatory factors. Results: There were significant positive associations between mono-butyl phthalate(MBP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (β=0.446, P=0.003) and interleukin-6 (β=0.425, P=0.003) in the follicular fluid. Similarly, there was a significant positive relationship between mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) and tumor necrosis factor-α(β=0.411, P=0.019). In the stratified analysis, MBP still showed significantly the positive association with tumor necrosis factor-α (β=0.667, P=0.000) and interleukin-6 (β=0.407, P=0.028) in the group aged≥30 years. In contrast, there were no correlations between mPAEs and inflammatory factors within the group aged <30 years. Conclusions: Our results suggest that there is strongly association between PAEs exposure and the altered levels of inflammatory factor, and that PAEs exposure may bring changes of inflammatory burden in the ovarian microenvironment.

Key words: Phthalic anhydrides, Formic acid esters, Environmental pollutants, Follicular fluid, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Interleukin-6, Fertilization in vitro, Sperm injections, intracytoplasmic