title: Leukemia inhibitory factor and interleukin-11: cytokines with key roles in implantation.
abstract: Members of the interleukin-6 family of cytokines include leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), interleukin-6, interleukin-11, cardiotrophin, ciliary neurotropic growth factor, oncostatin M and the recently discovered cardiotropin-like cytokine (NNT-1). These ligands signal via heterodimeric receptors composed of ligand-specific alpha chains and the common signal-transducing subunit gp130. Gene targeting in mice provided the first indication of a role for interleukin 6 family cytokines in implantation with the generation of mice with a null mutation of the gene encoding LIF. LIF null female mice were infertile because of failure of blastocyst implantation. More recently, interleukin-11 signalling has been shown to be required for the uterine decidualization response. This review describes the insights into the role of interleukin-6 family cytokines in female fertility that have come from gene targeting experiments in mice.
authors.affiliation: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and the Cooperative Research Center for Cellular Growth Factors, PO Royal Melbourne Hospital, Vic., Australia. robb@wehi.edu.au
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Robb
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dimitriadis
authors.forename: Ruili
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lois A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Salamonsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000276:immunology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017370:Interleukin-11 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D017370:Interleukin-11; D015850:Interleukin-6; C507837:LIF protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; C507838:Lif protein, mouse; D008222:Lymphokines