Association between Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Gene Polymorphism and Clinical Outcomes among Young Women with Poor Ovarian Response to Assisted Reproductive Technology.

BACKGROUND: Does the presence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) gene affect ovarian response in infertile young women?

METHODS: This was a case-control study recruiting 1744 infertile women between January 2014 to December 2015. The 1084 eligible patients were stratified into four groups using the POSEIDON criteria. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and LIF SNP genotypes were compared among the groups. The distributions of LIF and FSHR among younger and older patients were compared. Clinical outcomes were also compared.

RESULTS: The four groups of poor responders had different distributions of SNP in LIF. The prevalence of LIF genotypes among young poor ovarian responders differed from those of normal responders. Genetic model analyses in infertile young women revealed that the TG or GG genotype in the LIF resulted in fewer oocytes retrieved and fewer mature oocytes relative to the TT genotypes. In older women, the FSHR SNP genotype contributed to fewer numbers of mature oocytes.

CONCLUSIONS: LIF and FSHR SNP genotypes were associated with a statistically significant reduction in ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in younger and older women with an adequate ovarian reserve, respectively.