Infections and Unexplained Infertility

"We selected to perform the study during the proliferative phase (day 9-11), where only resident eNK cells are present in the endometrium. The samples will be analyzed with the following methods, that are routinely used in the OUs of the proposal:~\- pNK cell analysis: PBMCs will be purified with Ficoll solution and NK cells will be analyzed by flow cytometry (FacsVantage, BD) with anti-CD56, CD16, CD9, CD49a, KIRs, LILRB1, LILRB2, CD94, CD107a eNK cell analysis: eNK cells will be obtained from endometrial biopsies during proliferative phase, determined by ultrasound scan and analyzed for NK cell subtypes and KIRs, LILRB1, LILRB2, CD94, CD107a expression by flow cytometry"

Herpesvirus detection: DNA will be analyzed by specific primers for HSV-1, HSV-2, EBV, CMV, HHV-6, HHV-7, VZV, and HHV-8, with PCR and nested PCR

sHLA-G analysis: sHLA-G quantification in plasma and endometrial flushing will be performed by ELISA using anti-HLA-G (G233) and anti-beta2-microglobulin HRP-conjugated moAbs (Exbio)

Genomic DNA will be genotyped by RealTime PCR

sHLA-E analysis: sHLA-E quantification in plasma and endometrial flushing will be performed by ELISA using anti-HLA-E (3D12, eBioscience) and anti-beta2-microglobulin HRP-conjugated moAbs (Exbio)