Identification of new biomarkers of human endometrial receptivity in the natural cycle

Background Identification of new markers assessing endometrial receptivity may help in improving the clinical outcome of IVF. This study aimed at identifying genes expressed in human endometrium during the implantation window that could be used as such markers. Methods A series of normoresponder patients (n = 31) underwent endometrial biopsies (n = 62, 2 per patient) during the early secretory phase, 2 days after the LH surge (LH + 2) and the mid-secretory phase (LH + 7) of the same natural cycle that preceded a new ICSI attempt for male infertility factor. Samples were analyzed using DNA microarrays and gene expression profiles at the time of the implantation window were computed. Systems biology analysis allowed the identification of biological pathways that were over-represented in this signature. A new approach for class prediction applied to microarray experiments was then used to identify biomarkers putatively involved in endometrial receptiveness. Results Five genes expressed during the implantation window were all up-regulated in the LH + 7 samples compared with LH + 2 [laminin beta3 (P = 0.002), microfibril-associated protein 5 (P = 0.009), angiopoietin-like 1 (P = 0.005), endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (P = 0.049) and nuclear localized factor 2 (P = 0.007)]. Increased expression was validated by quantitative RT-PCR. Conclusions Five genes have been identified for the first time as being up-regulated during the implantation window and are proposed as new biomarkers for exploration of endometrial receptiveness. As the endometrial biopsy procedure can be performed during a natural cycle, it would be worth testing this approach as a novel strategy in patients with poor implantation after IVF or ICSI.