Expression of interleukin-11 during the human menstrual cycle: coincidencewith stromal cell decidualization and relationship to leukaemia inhibitoryfactor and prolactin
E. Dimitriadis et al., Expression of interleukin-11 during the human menstrual cycle: coincidencewith stromal cell decidualization and relationship to leukaemia inhibitoryfactor and prolactin, MOL HUM REP, 6(10), 2000, pp. 907-914
Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is crucial in the decidualization response of the ut
erine stroma to the implanting blastocyst in the mouse. This study examined
the localization and expression of IL-11 in human endometrium throughout t
he menstrual cycle and of prolactin and leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) i
n secretory phase endometrium. The mRNA expression of IL-11 receptor a and
the signalling component, gp130, in endometrial tissue were also determined
. Immunoreactive IL-11 was highest in the secretory phase and present in de
cidualized stromal cells, glandular epithelial cells, endothelial and smoot
h muscle cells, and the mRNA expression was verified by in-situ hybridizati
on. Decidual cells showed the most intense staining. IL-11 receptor a and g
p130 mRNA were detected throughout the cycle with minimal variation. Expres
sion of IL-11 mRNA and protein preceded that of prolactin. While immunoreac
tive prolactin was found in stromal, decidual and glandular epithelial cell
s, prolactin mRNA was confined to decidual cells. In contrast, endometrial
LIF expression preceded IL-11 but was largely confined to the glandular epi
thelium. The sequence of appearance of LIF, IL-11 and prolactin suggests a
synchronized role for each in the differentiation of the endometrium. The c
yclical changes and cell type specific expression of IL-11 suggests a poten
tial role in the decidualization of stromal cells.