Expression of interleukin-18 and its receptor in mouse ovary.

Abstract

PROBLEM:

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) strongly induces interferon-gamma production and is produced not only by types of immune cells but also by types of non-immune cells. Ovulation is thought to be an inflammation-like reaction in which many pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved. We investigated whether IL-18 is involved in the functions of ovary.

METHOD OF STUDY:

The 4-week-old immature female mice were examined for IL-18 and IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) expression on their ovaries under stimulation with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting and reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction. The IL-18R was blocked by the injection of anti-IL-18R monoclonal antibody to immature mice during PMSG-hCG stimulation, and the number of ovulated ova was counted.

RESULTS:

The expression of both proteins and mRNA of IL-18 and IL-18R were very low in immature ovaries before stimulation, but after PMSG injection both IL-18 and IL-18R increased dramatically in theca cells and reached a maximum level at the peri-ovulatory phase then slightly lowered, but still kept a high level during the luteal phase in the corpus luteum. The treatment of IL-18R monoclonal antibody to the mice during ovarian stimulation reduced the number of ovulated ova and inhibited the expansion of cumulus cells surrounding the ovum.

CONCLUSION:

IL-18 and IL-18R play roles in various kinds of function of ovary.

• Authors: Y Tsuji, T H Tamaoki, A Hasegawa, S Kashiwamura, A Iemoto, H Ueda, J Muranaka, S Adachi, J Furuyama, H Okamura, K Koyama
• Journal: American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) (Am J Reprod Immunol) Vol. 46 Issue 5 Pg. 349-57 (Nov 2001) ISSN: 1046-7408 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 11712764 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Chorionic Gonadotropin
• Gonadotropins, Equine
• IL18R1 protein, human
• Il18r1 protein, mouse
• Interleukin-18
• Interleukin-18 Receptor alpha Subunit
• Receptors, Interleukin
• Receptors, Interleukin-18

Topics

• Animals
• Blotting, Western
• Chorionic Gonadotropin (pharmacology)
• Female
• Gonadotropins, Equine (pharmacology)
• Immunohistochemistry
• Interleukin-18 (analysis, genetics, physiology)
• Interleukin-18 Receptor alpha Subunit
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Molecular Weight
• Ovary (chemistry)
• Ovulation
• Receptors, Interleukin (analysis, genetics, physiology)
• Receptors, Interleukin-18
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction