title: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) mRNA expression and localization of IL-18 mRNA-expressing cells in the mouse uterus.
abstract: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) belongs to the interleukin-1 family and was identified as an interferon-gamma inducing factor. We investigated IL-18 mRNA-expressing cells in the mouse uterus. By RNase protection assay, IL-18 mRNA and alpha subunit of IL-18 receptor mRNA were detected in the uterus. In the uterus, IL-18 mRNA levels increased during sexual maturation. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrated IL-18 mRNA-expressing cells in the mouse uterus of different ages. At 21 days of age, IL-18 mRNA-expressing cells were detected in the luminal epithelial cells and stromal cells although the IL-18 mRNA signal was weak. At 42 days of age, IL-18 mRNA signal was mainly detected in the stromal cells located near the myometrium, and in some of the luminal and glandular epithelial cells. In the uterus of 63-day-old adult mice, a strong hybridization signal for IL-18 mRNA was detected at estrus, but was weak at diestrus. IL-18 mRNA was mainly detected in the glandular epithelial cells and stromal cells. The effect of estradiol-17beta (E(2)) on IL-18 mRNA-expressing cells in the uterus was examined in ovariectomized mice. In oil-treated mice IL-18 mRNA signal was localized in luminal epithelial cells and stromal cells, while in E(2)-treated mice IL-18 mRNA signal was localized in stromal cells alone. These results suggest that the mouse uterus has an IL-18 system, and IL-18 exerts a physiological role within the uterus in a paracrine manner, and that IL-18 gene expression is regulated by estrogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Okayama University, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusumoto
authors.forename: Yousuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otsuki
authors.forename: Munetoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanayama
authors.forename: Sakae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Sumio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D019899:Paracrine Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D020382:Interleukin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004958:Estradiol