Cigarette smoke is associated with up-regulation of inducible NOS and COX-2 protein expression and activity in granulosa cells of women undergoing in vitro fertilization

Cigarette smoke exposure represents a well-established ovotoxic exogenous stress, but the molecular mechanisms underlying of this effect are still unclear. Cigarette smoke upregulates inflammatory genes in the female reproductive organs, therefore an abnormal inflammation response may contribute to the impairment of female fertility. In this study we investigated for the first time the effect of cigarette smoke exposure on NOS and COX expression and activity and on their transcription factors (CREB and NF-kB) in human GCs and on the release of NO and PGE₂ in the FF in smoking and non-smoking patients undergoing IVF treatment. In addition, correlation analysis between AMH serum levels, an index of ovarian reserve, and smoking exposure or iNOS and COX-2 protein expression levels were performed using a Pearson correlation method. Cigarette smoke exposure resulted in a significant increase of iNOS and COX-2 protein expression together with an increase of iNOS activity and PGE₂ levels. pNF-kB and pCREB protein expression were upregulated in the GCs of smokers compared to non-smokers. The habit of smoking was negatively correlated with serum AMH levels, and positively correlated with iNOS and COX-2 protein expression levels. The data presented in the current study revealed a novel molecular mechanism underlying the toxic effects of cigarette smoke on fertility. Additional pathways mediating the effects of cigarette smoke exposure in human GCs cannot be excluded and should be investigated in future studies.

The plasmatic and salivary levels of IL-1β, IL-18 and IL-6 are associated to emotional difference during stress in young male

Saliva collection is considered a non-invasive method to detect inflammatory markers in response to emotional states within natural social contexts. Numerous studies have prompted an important role of cytokines in modulating distinct aspects of social and emotional behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of plasma and saliva as investigative tools for measure some inflammatory marker levels (CRP, IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-6). At the same time, the relationships between these markers and emotional states in response to a socio-cognitive stress (Academic Exam, AE), were considered. It was demonstrated that the plasma and saliva concentrations of all immune-mediators analyzed were significantly related across the socio-cognitive stress. In addition, when there was a close correlation to AE, the anger state, the IL-1β, the IL-18 salivary and plasmatic concentrations were significantly higher, while they decreased during the AE. On the other hand, the anxiety state and the IL-6 levels significantly increased throughout the AE. The IL-1β and IL-6 were positively associated to the anger and the anxiety state, respectively. In conclusion, our data highlight that different immune markers are similarly detectable in plasma and saliva during socio-cognitive stress. Also, they could be related to different emotional responses.