Autologous Mesenchimal Stem Cell Therapy Infertile Patients: A Case Report

In Mexico there are 17% of women of reproductive age with infertility problems, which is equivalent to 1.4 million couples need assisted reproduction techniques; from 9 to 24% of these patients present a low ovarian response, which is defined as the poor obtaining of mature eggs after ovarian stimulation of follicular puncture during in vitro fertilization, which occurs with a higher incidence in women older than 38 years, mainly due to ovarian aging and decreased ovarian reserve. In particular, low responders are not a homogeneous population of patients and their prognosis varies greatly depending on parameters such as age and number of oocytes retrieved [1-5]. Scientific and technological advances in the management and treatment of patients with a low ovarian response continue to be controversial and the criteria for diagnosing it have changed and since 2011 the Bologna criteria and later those of Poseidon [1-5] have been implemented. The Poseidon criteria are divided into 4 categories, based on quantitative parameters, quality, age, number of antral follicles or antimullerian hormone levels, and ovarian response (after standard reference stimulation). Within these criteria, specifically group 1 (those <35 years of age) and 2 (those ≥35 years of age), refer to normo-gonadotropic patients, who present antral follicular count (AFC) ≥5 and hormone antimulleriana≥1.2ng/mL, with subgroups 1a or 2a respectively, where <4 oocytes are obtained in metaphase II: expanded and lutinized cluster cells, in follicular aspiration and subgroups 1b and 2b, respectively where [4-9] oocytes are obtained in AF. These patients are classified as low or suboptimal ovarian response [2,4,5].

The importance of the classification of the low ovarian response is to obtain a timely diagnosis, because it allows strategies that will have better results, and the proposals for patients with low idiopathic ovarian response, are due to high doses of analogs of the hormone releasing hormones. Gonadotropins and cycles longer than 10 days, due to possible follicle-stimulating hormone receptor polymorphisms, less bioactive luteinizing hormone variants or damage to these molecules by free radicals and or environmental contaminants, in addition to lifestyle and nutrition, which could be responsible for low sensitivity to follicle-stimulating hormone; the application of high doses of luteinizing hormone is proposed, which improves inadequate levels of endogenous androgens; and they increase the expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptors in granulosa cells, which leads to increased ovarian response capacity to follicle-stimulating hormone [6-8]. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy has been considered as a new option to treat female infertility since it allows the use of own eggs to restore ovarian function, which has opened new doors for women with low ovarian response [9-15].

MSCs are cells capable of self-renewal, with a high proliferation rate and the ability to differentiate between different cells of the same organ or embryonic layer (Multipotent) or a single cell type (unipotent). They are obtained from bone marrow, peripheral blood, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, etc., either autologously or from a donor, and have been used in cell therapy for diseases such as Alzheimer's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's, Parkinson's, cerebral infarctions. and myocardium, spinal cord damage, immune disorders, osteoarthritis, restoration of ovarian function, etc. [5,16,17,18-20]. Secrete a wide selection of cytosines, chemokines and growth factors, these characteristics give them anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic and immunomodulatory properties, in addition, they help in tissue repair, replacing damaged cells, which makes them highly attractive to the clinic [12,16,18,21-24]. Based on this information, a human method was designed to administer autologous adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) directly into the ovaries. The results may begin to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of ovarian rejuvenation and point the way for the development of future therapies.

We present a 39-year-old woman, weighing 60.5kg, height 1.66m, with secondary infertility, 2 episodes, 2 abortions, and antimulleriana hormone levels of 4ng/mL. He does not have a partner and due to his age vitrification of oocytes is decided. In its first cycle in the clinic, antral follicles were counted on day 2 of the cycle by vaginal ultrasound (Philips, Affiniti 50, 7MHz), observing the presence of 6 follicles in the right ovary (≥0.5mm) Figure 1. Ovarian stimulation is started on day 3 of the cycle using 300IU per day of menopausal gonadotropic hormone (Merapur®), from day three to eleven, and 0.25mg of cetrorelix per day (Cetrotide), from day eight to eleven, followed by the application of the hormone chorionic gonadotropin (Ovidrel) on day twelve of the cycle and on day 14 performing follicular aspiration, obtaining 2 oocytes in metaphase II: expanded and luteinized cluster cells and 1 oocyte in Metaphase I: less expanded cluster cells, using HTF HEPES Human Tubal Fluid (In Vitro. Care, Cat # 2002-5, 500ml). The 3 oocytes were immediately vitrified (Kitazato Co, Tokyo, Japan).

Figure 1: Shows 6 AFC in the right ovary, larger than 5mm. Study performed with vaginal ultrasound (Philips, Affiniti 50, with a minimum of 7MHz).

Taking this first cycle into account, the patient is classified as a low idiopathic responder, including her in group 2 and subgroup 2a of the Poseidon criteria. The proposed treatment option for this type of patient is the application of higher doses of gonadotropins and longer stimulations. As ovarian stimulation started with high doses in the first cycle, due to the history of maternal age and her desire to vitrify oocytes, it was decided to change the medication from Merapur to Pergoveris while maintaining the same dose and proposed therapy with tissue stem cells Adipose autologous ADMSCs applied directly to the ovary as an adjuvant. The nature of the procedure to be performed is explained to the patient, and she accepts the written informed consent of the procurement of autologous AD-MSCs as an adjunct. Following, on day 14 of the menstrual cycle, the patient goes to the operating room, where the fat tissue is obtained, beginning with the selection of the obtaining surface, followed by antisepsis and application of local anesthesia. Obtaining 60cc of solid fat from which 40x106 of mesenchymal stem cells were obtained, which were diluted in platelet rich plasma, until reaching a volume in milliliters. Immediately after obtaining mesenchymal stem cells on day 14 of the cycle, the patient was placed in the lithotomy position, prior to the application of general anesthesia and with vaginal ultrasound (Philips, Affiniti 50, with at least 7MHz) the ovaries, (Figure 2 & 3).

Figure 2: Technique; Application of PRP+AD-MSCs in the ovary 1. The aspiration system is closed to prevent PRP+AD-MSCs from going to the oocyte collection tuve 2. PRP + AD-MSCs are injected with the flow of the system directed to the ovary and 3. It is observed how PRP + AD -MSCs is deposited in the ovary.

Figure 3: Shows 7 AFC in the right ovary (OD) and 7 AFC in the left ovary (LE), greater than 5mm. Study performed with vaginal ultrasound (Philips, Affiniti 50, with a minimum of 7MHz).

From this moment on, the patient makes the decision to devitrify the 3 oocytes from the first cycle (Kitazato Co, Tokyo, Japan) and, together with the 14 oocytes from the second cycle, fertilize them with donor semen (normozoospermia). Decision that was approved by the medical team because the number of oocytes obtained so far coincided with 2, who reports that to obtain at least one euploid blastocyst, a minimum of 11 metaphase II oocytes is needed: cumulus cells expanded and luteinized. Of the 17 oocytes only 13 were fertilized, of which they belonged to the second cycle and only 3 developed to a blastocyst (morphology of the classification of the three blastocysts (1BE/BB, 1BH/BD and 1BH/ CD). embryonic development G1 culture medium was used from fertilization of the oocyte until day 3 (Vitro Life, REF: 10128) and from day 3 to 5 they were cultured in G2 medium (Vitrolife, REF: 10132). The incubator used was a Mini-Incubator, Cook, Australia, using a fixed gas mixture with 5% O2 and 7.5% CO2. A biopsy was performed of the three blastocysts obtained, to carry out a preimplantation genetic study for aneuploidies by new generation sequencing. The result of the study reported one euploid embryo and two aneuploidies. For embryo transfer, the euploid embryo was taken and placed in the mother’s uterus, resulting in a positive menopausal gonadotropin hormone beta subunit test of 6572mUI/ mL; A male newborn of 3120g and height of 51cm was obtained by caesarean section at 39.2 weeks of gestation with APGAR of 8/9, which was progressing adequately.

FSH/FSHR signaling plays an important role in normal gonadal function by regulating follicular growth, estrogen production, and oocyte maturation; the alteration of FSHR function generates a complete block of follicular maturation [8,12,17], it is observed in mice with deficit of follicle stimulating hormone receptors, who received intravenous therapy with stem cells obtained of bone marrow, an increase in the number of antral follicles (6 vs. 28), E2 ”(10 vs. 40pg/mL) and higher expression of the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor compared to the control group; In our clinical case report, the improvement in the ovarian response was demonstrated, obtaining more follicles and achieving pregnancy, by improving the quality of the oocytes. For their part, 11, they report the case of a 45-year-old woman with perimenopause (infrequent menstruation), who underwent transfer of autologous stem cells extracted from the bone marrow, the presence of 2 oocytes in the right ovary and 2 oocytes in the left ovary after the eighth week of application, in addition to an increase in HAM fluid from 0.4 to 0.9ng/mL. 3 oocytes were captured, one of which was of good quality and which was transferred. On day 14, pregnancy was reported with chorionic beta hormone gonadotropin 1280 and at 6 weeks gestation with ultrasound.

The birth was given at 38 weeks of gestation and it was a girl 5 of 2.7kg; Autologous stem cells obtained from bone marrow were transplanted to 10 patients aged 26-33 years with premature ovarian failure and normal karyotypes, observing that 20% resumed menstruation 3 months after treatment and increased antimullerian hormone, obtaining only one of the pregnancy after 11 months of therapy. Resulting in the birth of a live 3.3kg girl at 38 weeks gestation. The increase in oocytes and their quality in this case report, and in the other studies mentioned, may be due to the fact that mesenchymal stromal cells promote the recovery of ovarian function through the inhibition of apoptosis of cells of the granulosa and follicular atresia by increasing the expression of the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor in granulosa cells, allowing folliculogenesis to be carried out correctly 6-8. This is the first report of a live newborn in Mexico, where autologous ADMSCs were administered analogously to conventional treatment, for low idiopathic ovarian response in a patient included in group 2, subgroup 2a, of the Poseidon criteria.

In patients diagnosed with low ovarian response by Poseidon’s criteria (Group 2, subgroup 2), the use of autologous AD-MSCs is an alternative to achieve a healthy pregnancy and newborn; Further studies are required for its greater acceptance.

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