Dr Nathalie Lédée
Professor of Assisted Reproduction at the University of Paris, Clamart, France
Dr Nathalie Lédée received her PhD in 2003 and her MD in obstetrics and gynaecology in 1993, both from the University Paris VI, France. Between 2004 and 2008, she was Assistant Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the University Versailles St. Quentin en Yvelines and work-package leader in the European network EMBIC focusing on embryo implantation (Embryo Implantation Control). Dr Lédée is currently Professor of Assisted Reproduction at the University of Paris in France and her main field of research is uterine receptivity and involvement of cytokines/chemokines in the process of embryo implantation.
About Dr Lédée’s GFI Project
Dr Lédée’s winning project - Non invasive approaches on oocyte competence to predict pregnancy - will use the modified natural IVF/ICSI cycle as an experimental model to explore oocyte competence in individual follicular fluids (FF) by measuring the levels of G-CSF and Interleukin-7 by bead-based immunoassay, cytometric bead array and expression in corresponding granulosa cells.
Previous studies, performed in 83 women undergoing a first IVF/ICSI attempt during a modified natural cycle, tested blindly the levels of 26 factors by bead-based immunoassays. Each analyte was evaluated as a potential biomarker of subsequent birth. Levels of G-CSF and IL-7 in FF were found to be predictive of subsequent birth. The AUCROC (area under the ROC curve) to predict birth was 0.80 for G-CSF, 0.76 for IL-7 (p=0.0001 for all). Birth rate per oocyte retrieved was 5% versus 36% (p=0.002) for G-CSF below or above 12.08 pg/ml, 11.6 versus 52% (p<0.001) for IL-7 below or above 32 pg/ml and 2.8% versus 50% combining G-CSF and IL-7 (p<0.0001).
In standard hyperstimulated cycles, it was previously found that G-CSF (alone) appeared as non-invasive biomarkers of oocyte competence for successful delivery in individual follicular fluids (AUCROC :0.83, p:0.0001) with 6% versus 44% of delivery if follicular G-CSF concentration was below 20 pg/ml or over 24 pg/ml. Objectives of the project include the exploration of 1) the repeatability of follicular cytokine profiles over monitored natural cycles; 2) the expression of related gene in corresponding granulosa cells; and 3) to establish the prognostic value of follicular cytokine profiles for delivery in multicentric prospective randomised studies.
