Immunohistochemical localization of interferon-gamma in normal human ovary.
There is increasing evidence that cytokines are important intraovarian non-steroidal regulators. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence in the human ovary of interferon (IFN)-gamma, a cytokine produced by T lymphocytes after mitogenic or antigenic stimulation. Very low levels of IFN-gamma (0.025-0.057 IU/ml) were found in follicular fluid of large spontaneously maturing follicles, in the ovarian vein (< 0.01-0.079 IU/ml) or peripheral blood (< 0.01-0.06 IU/ml). The avidin-biotin immunocytochemical technique, with appropriate monoclonal antibodies, was used to localize IFN-gamma-positive cells, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR molecules, activated T cells, T helper/inducer cells and T cytotoxic/suppressor cells. IFN-gamma-positive cells were only detected in preovulatory follicles, associated with the follicular basal lamina, thecal vessels and interstitial tissue. In the same large follicles very few T helper/inducer cells were detected, but a high proportion of T lymphocytes expressed the CD8 phenotype in the theca, interstitial tissue and follicular cavity. No IFN-gamma-positive cells were observed in preantral and small antral follicles. The results indicate that the human ovary contains immunoreactive IFN-gamma, suggesting that the cytokine plays a paracrine role in human ovarian function.
Institute of Human Anatomy, Italian Neuroimmunology Group, University of Siena.
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Grasso
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Asano
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Minagawa
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Tanaka
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Fujimoto
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Muscettola
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000502:physiology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma