Expression of Interleukin-18 Receptor mRNA in the Mouse Endometrium

Abstract

Abstract. ) is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and a variety of cancers, and is expressed in mouse uteri. Our previous study suggested that IL-18 acts as a paracrine factor, regulating endometrial function. To elucidate the physiological roles of IL-18 in the mouse endometrium, the expression of the IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) α subunit was analyzed. IL-18Rα mRNA was expressed in several mouse organs in addition to the endometrium. In situ hybridization analysis using a biotin-labeled mouse IL-18Rα riboprobe demonstrated that IL-18Rα mRNA expression was detected in glandular epithelial cells, stromal cells around uterine glands, and myometrial cells in the mouse uterus, suggesting that these cells are targets for IL-18. The uterine IL-18Rα mRNA expression level changed with the estrous cycle. The uterine IL-18Rα mRNA levels of estrous mice were higher than those of diestrous mice. In addition, the IL-18Rα mRNA levels in uteri at 3 and 14 days after ovariectomy were higher than those at diestrus and decreased following treatment with estradiol-17β or progesterone. These findings suggest that IL-18Rα gene expression is regulated by estrogen and progesterone and that the uterine IL-18 system is involved in the regulation of uterine functions in a paracrine manner.

Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ESR1)-Dependent Regulation of the Mouse Oviductal Transcriptome

“…trachomatis [ 39 ]. We observed a 19-fold increase in the expression of Il18r1 in the oviducts of PMSG-treated ESR1KO versus PMSG-treated WT mice (Tables 5 – 8 ), which is also consistent with the regulation of the IL18 receptor by estradiol, as reported in the uterine endometrium [ 40 ]. Among the other DEG’s encoding interleukins, mRNA encoding IL17 receptors A, B and E ( Il17ra , Il17rb and Il17re ) as well as interleukin 1 receptor, type 1 ( Il1r1 ) and interleukin 1 receptor accessory protein ( Il1rap ) differed in the oviducts of PMSG-treated ESR1KO versus PMSG-treated WT mice ( Table 8 ).…”

Influence of progesterone on myometrial contractility in pregnant mice treated with lipopolysaccharide

“…Medroxyprogesterone prevented inflammation‐induced preterm parturition and significantly preserved fetal viability in pregnant mice treated with LPS 34 . Chronic progesterone significantly decreased IL‐18 receptor mRNA in mouse uteri 35 . Therefore, although in our study the acute effects of progesterone did not influence uterine contraction in pregnant mice with inflammation, a chronic effect of this agent might be a decrease of uterine contractions.…”

“…34 Chronic progesterone significantly decreased IL-18 receptor mRNA in mouse uteri. 35 Therefore, although in our study the acute effects of progesterone did not influence uterine contraction in pregnant mice with inflammation, a chronic effect of this agent might be a decrease of uterine contractions. The administration of progesterone in pregnant mice with alcohol-induced preterm delivery found significant efficacy in prolonging pregnancy.…”

Interleukin 18 in the CNS

“…Subsequently, the mRNA expression of IL-18Rα, IL-18Rβ and the soluble form of the IL-18Rβ were detected in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, striatum and cortex and in cultured astrocytes, microglia and neurons [28]. More recently in vivo analysis showed that IL-18Rα mRNA and protein are constitutively expresseed in neurons throughout the brain [26,53,60,66]. Similar neuronal localization and distribution was found for IL-18Rβ (Alboni et al, unpublished data).…”