Interleukin-6 up-regulates the oxytocin receptor in cultured uterine smooth muscle cells.

Abstract

PROBLEM:

Intra-uterine infection results in the production of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6). Increased oxytocin-receptor (OTR) concentrations are associated with the onset of preterm labor. We hypothesize that infection up-regulates OTR expression through IL-6-induced transcription factors.

METHOD OF STUDY:

Primary cultures of human myometrium were treated for various time periods or with different concentrations of IL-6 and OTR mRNA as well as OTR binding were measured by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and 125I-ornithine-vasotocin-binding assay. To study underlying mechanisms of OTR changes with IL-6 treated, cells were also incubated with genistein or H7 (tyrosine and serine phosphorylation inhibitors), respectively.

RESULTS:

OTR mRNA increased 2.5-fold after 4 hr of IL-6 treatment and OTR binding 1.4-fold after 8 hr of cytokine stimulation. The IL-6-induced increase in binding was blocked by genistein and H7.

CONCLUSIONS:

IL-6 up-regulates uterine OTR mRNA expression and binding capacity in cultured human myocytes most likely through tyrosine and serine phosphorylation pathways involving the nuclear factor STAT-3.

• Authors: P N Rauk, U Friebe-Hoffmann, L D Winebrenner, J P Chiao
• Journal: American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) (Am J Reprod Immunol) Vol. 45 Issue 3 Pg. 148-53 (Mar 2001) ISSN: 1046-7408 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 11270639 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-6
• Receptors, Oxytocin
• Genistein

Topics

• Female
• Genistein (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (pharmacology)
• Myometrium (cytology, drug effects, physiology)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Trimester, Third
• Receptors, Oxytocin (biosynthesis)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Up-Regulation