Cytokine array comparisons of plasma from cycling fertile women on cycle day 5 and ovulation.

Problem: To identify plasma immuno-regulatory molecules up or down regulated between the follicular phase and ovulation of the human menstrual cycle.

Method Of Study: RayBio cytokine arrays were used to screen 174 immuno-regulatory molecules in plasma collected during the follicular phase at menstrual cycle day 5 and at ovulation from five healthy, non-smoking, fertile women of reproductive age not using hormonal contraception.

Results: A total of 23 differentially expressed molecules were found: 10 molecules were differentially up-regulated and 13 down-regulated at ovulation compared with that at the follicular phase (alpha = 0.05, false discovery rate of 0.45).

Conclusion: Circulating immuno-regulatory molecules fluctuate over the menstrual cycle in healthy women. The combination of differentially expressed molecules suggests roles in cyclical regulation of angiogenesis and immune cell trafficking.