EXPRESSION OF INTERLEUKIN-6 AND INTERLEUKIN-6 RECEPTORS IN HUMAN GRANULOSA LUTEIN CELLS

Cytokines are important regulators of reproductive functions. Signific ant amounts of interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been detected in the serum an d ascites of patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). T hese findings suggest the involvement of IL-6 as a mediator in the pat hogenesis of OHSS. This study was performed to analyse IL-6 and IL-6 r eceptor (lL-6-R) expression in human granulosa lutein cells (GC). GC w ere cultured after isolation from follicular fluid. IL-6 concentration s in follicular fluid and serum from individual patients and GC supern atants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found de tectable concentrations of IL-6 in serum and follicular fluid of all p atients. Expression of IL-6 in GC was shown immunocytochemically. IL-6 mRNA was detected in GC by in-situ hybridization. Gene expression for IL-6 and IL-6-R in GC was demonstrated using reverse transcription-po lymerase chain reaction. IL-6 significantly inhibited human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)-induced progesterone secretion of GC. The results of our study suggest that IL-6 is expressed in HGC and that this cytok ine is able to modulate GC function via its specific receptor. This is the first report that describes the precence of IL-6-R in human granu losa lutein cells.