title: Expression and role of interleukin-23 in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.
abstract: Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is a novel cytokine involved in the regulation of organ-specific immune responses. We hypothesized that expression of IL-23 in the human endometrium is menstrual cycle and pregnancy dependent, and is involved in endometrial immune regulation. IL-23 expression and regulation was investigated in the human endometrium and placenta in vivo using immunohistochemistry and in vitro using Western blot and cell viability analyses. IL-23 immunoreactivity in endometrial glandular cells was highest in the late proliferative and early secretory phases, as compared to other cycle phases and first trimester tissues. Endometrial stromal cells (ESC) showed weak IL-23 immunoreactivity without significant changes in intensity and distribution throughout the menstrual cycle. First trimester decidual cells revealed significantly stronger IL-23 staining compared to ESC from non-pregnant endometrium. Both villous cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts also showed positive IL-23 immunoreactivity, with a higher staining in syncytiotrophoblasts. In the trophoblastic cell line HRT8, IL-23 expression increased in a time-dependent manner, but was undetectable in stromal cells under all treatment conditions. ESC treated with recombinant IL-23 showed significantly decreased IL-8 secretion and cell viability. These results suggest a possible regulatory role for IL-23 in the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy, although the extent and function of this role are yet to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Yesim Hulya
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Uz
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Murk
authors.forename: Celal Emre
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Yetkin
authors.forename: Umit Ali
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Kayisli
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arici
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002460:Cell Line; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D053759:Interleukin-23; D016209:Interleukin-8