Feasibility study of Luminex assay for cytokine levels in follicular fluid

Objective:To preliminarily evaluate the feasibility of applying bead-based multiplex sandwich immunoassay(Luminex) to assay 36 cytokines in the follicular fluid(FF) obtained during oocytes retrieval from patients underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH).Methods:The levels of 36 cytokines in the follicular fluid obtained from a single follicle of 81 infertility patients were measured by Luminex.Then the feasibility of applying Luminex to measure cytokines in the FF was preliminarily evaluated.Results:When using Luminex to assay the levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-4,IL-5,IL-10,leptin,macrophage inflammatory protein(MIP)-1β,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-β,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),the results were credible because the measurement accuracy,precision and sensitivity were high.Conclusion:Luminex can be used to assay levels of cytokines in FF.But to broaden the test scope of cytokines aimed at in the follicular fluid,it needs to perfect the evaluation of the testing system and further improve the measurement sensitivity.