EFFECT OF HUMAN CHORIONIC-GONADOTROPIN ON CYTOKINE PRODUCTION FROM HUMAN ENDOMETRIAL CELLS IN-VITRO

PROBLEM: To examine whether human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is invo lved in the regulation of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (T NF)-alpha, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) secretion from culture d human endometrial cells. METHOD OF STUDY: A mixed population of endo metrial cells from six in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer patients was cultured and incubated with various doses of hCG (0, 1, 10, 50, 1 00, and 500 IU/ml) for 24 hr. IL-6, TNF-alpha, and LIF levels in the c ulture medium were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RE SULTS: IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels were stimulated by hCG in a dose-depe ndent manner. Stimulation of IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels by 500 IU/ml of hCG increased their production by 3.7- and 2.8-fold, respectively (P < 0.05). Stimulation of IL-6 by 100 IU/ml of hCG was also significant (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant effect of hCG on LIF sec retion by endometrial cells (P = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: hCG is involved i n the regulation of endometrial cytokine production from human endomet rial cells in vitro. This finding supports the recently emerging notio n that hCG could have important local roles within the uterus besides its well-known luteotrophic role on the corpus luteum for maintenance of pregnancy.PROBLEM: To examine whether human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is involved in the regulation of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necro sis factor (TNF)-alpha, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) secretion from cultured human endometrial cells. METHOD OF STUDY: A mixed popul ation of endometrial cells from six in vitro fertilization/embryo tran sfer patients was cultured and incubated with various doses of hCG (0, 1, 10, 50, 100, and 500 IU/ml) for 24 hr. IL-6, TNF-alpha, and LIF le vels in the culture medium were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorb ent assay. RESULTS: IL-6 and TNF-a levels were stimulated by hCG in a dose-dependent manner. Stimulation of IL-6 and TNF-or levels by 500 IU /ml of hCG increased their production by 3.7- and 2.8-fold, respective ly (P < 0.05). Stimulation of IL-6 by 100 IU/ml of hCG was also signif icant (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant effect of hCG on L IF secretion by endometrial cells (P = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: hCG is invo lved in the regulation of endometrial cytokine production from human e ndometrial cells in vitro. This finding supports the recently emerging notion that hCG could have important local roles within the uterus be sides its well-known luteotrophic role on the corpus luteum for mainte nance of pregnancy.