Out-licensing

Treatment and Diagnosis of an Infertility Condition by Measuring or Inhibiting Interferon-Gamma

Introduction/Background

Endometrium receptiveness is implicated in recurrent miscarriage as well as pre-eclampsia and foetal growth retardation. A growing body of research supports the idea that cytokines in semen are also involved in the immune changes required for a successful pregnancy.

Aims/Hypothesis

Infertility and recurrent miscarriage affect 60-80 million couples worldwide with an increasing rate of incidence. Whilst technologies such as IVF are able to assist patients, the receptivity of the endometrium to the implanted embryo is often a hurdle to successful pregnancy.

Research

The invention relates to estimating levels of interferon-gamma in diagnosis of a fertility condition, use of an gamma inhibitor in inducing GM-CSF synthesis and a tolerance reaction to exogenous antigens at mucosal surfaces and, in particular, for enhancing a positive fertility outcome. Seminal cytokine profiles have identified that gamma levels can alter between males and positively correlate with recurrent miscarriage or idiopathic infertility. The mechanism underlying this is, in part, due to the gamma-mediated inhibition of ß, which facilitates immune changes and tissue remodelling in the female cervix and uterus to accommodate pregnancy. The patent for the use of gamma for the treatment and diagnosis infertility has entered the National Phase. Funding has been obtained for a large pilot study involving the measurement of seminal gamma in 250 males.

Conclusion

The identification of gamma as a cytokine involved in the immune changes required for a successful pregnancy could be involved in the development of new infertility diagnostic techniques that are distinct to the traditional sperm-based fertility analyses. Furthermore, this could also be used in the treatment of specific forms of infertility.

Relevance/Opportunity

We are seeking to licence partners interested in the development of immunological diagnostics, for the continued development of this technology as a human diagnostic and treatment of infertility.

Preclinical