Objective: This observational, clinical study was designed to assess the role of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), and resveratrol in in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Methods: Paired serum and follicular fluid (FF) samples were obtained from 30 consecutive patients (age: 36.43 ± 4.17 years, body mass index: 22.90 ± 2.05 kg/m2, duration of infertility: 5.10 ± 2.80 years) who received IVF treatment. SIRT1, SIRT6, and resveratrol levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Ovarian hyperstimulation resulted in significantly higher serum SIRT1 levels in pregnant women (8 patients) compared with non-pregnant women (22 patients). SIRT6 levels remained unchanged after ovarian hyperstimulation, but were significantly lower in pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women before and after hyperstimulation. Both SIRTs were detected in FF, but they appeared to be independent of their serum levels. After correction for confounders, FF SIRT6 levels were positively related to mature oocytes (F = 6.609), whereas serum SIRT1 and SIRT6 levels were related to clinical pregnancy (F = 10.008, F = 5.268, respectively).
Conclusions: Our study shows that SIRT1 and SIRT6, but not resveratrol, are involved in human reproduction and they may have a role in oocyte maturation and clinical pregnancy in IVF.
Keywords: fertilization; biomarker; outcome measures; ovarian hyperstimulation; resveratrol; sirtuin.