Analysis of Cell-Free DNA (as a genetic index for embryo quality)in an Iranian Women Undergoing IVF

۱) Background: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is offered as a treatment for infertility in women.. The Cell free DNA in plasma/follicles were suggested as a biomarker for embryo quality inIVF. Higher the levels of Cell-free DNA indicate poorer embryo quality in the follicular fluidduring IVF. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) inplasma and Fluid-follicle of women undergoing IVF-embryo transfer. ۲) Methods: The studyexamined ۱۰۰ women undergoing IVF treatment in an IVF unit in Yas Hospital of TehranUniversity of Medical Sciences in Tehran-Iran. Cell-free DNA was extracted from plasmaand follicular fluid of patients using the NucleoSpin® Extraction Kit. The total cfDNA wasexamined by qPCR for ALBUMIN and GAPDH genes. ۳) Results: we did not find astatistically significant association among the variables such as CT-plasma, CT-follicularfluid, delta-CT and average of these data between two groups (including patients who had asuccessful IVF cycle and those who had a failed IVF cycle). ۴) Conclusion: Plasma andfollicular fluid cfDNA may reflect the presence of factors which interfere with embryoimplantation. Further research is required to determine the usefulness of cfDNA as abiomarker of IVF outcome and to examine the underlying pathologies as potential sourcesfor increased plasma/follicular fluid cfDNA concentrations.

Keywords:

Cell-Free DNA , Follicular fluid , plasma , IVF , ALBUMIN , GAPDH