Triphasic expression of interleukin-1 receptor type I in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle of fertile women and women with unexplained infertility.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate expression of interleukin-1 receptor type I in the endometrium of fertile women throughout the menstrual cycle and to investigate whether unexplained infertility may be associated with abnormal expression of IL-1 receptor type I.


METHODS
Retrospective study using immunohistochemical technique, Western blot assay, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.


METHODS
Gynecology clinic and human reproduction research laboratory.


METHODS
39 fertile women and 25 women with unexplained infertility.


METHODS
Endometrial biopsy of samples obtained at laparoscopy.


METHODS
Immunostaining intensity, molecular weight, and messenger RNA levels of IL-1 receptor type I.


RESULTS
Immunostaining showed that two threshold days (13 and 22) separate the menstrual cycle into three distinct periods of IL-1 receptor type I expression, both in epithelial and stromal cells. Results of Western blot assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction confirmed the immunohistochemical data. Statistical analyses showed that the pattern of IL-1 receptor type I expression was similar in women with unexplained infertility and fertile women.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-1 receptor type I exhibits three distinct levels of expression throughout the menstrual cycle in the endometrium of fertile women, suggesting different physiologic roles of the receptor within the cycle. However, IL-1 receptor type I does not seem to be involved in unexplained infertility.
Bigonnesse
F
F
Laboratoire d'Endocrinologie de la Reproduction, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada.
Labelle
Y
Y
Akoum
A
A
D015153:Blotting, Western; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases