The effects of mifepristone on the expressions of osteopontin, interleukin-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor in the villi of early pregnant women.
BACKGROUND
The autocrine, paracrine and hormonal effects of osteopontin (OPN), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) suggest that these cytokines may play key roles at the maternal-fetal interface. This study was performed to determine the effects of mifepristone on OPN, LIF and IL-6 mRNA and protein expressions in the villi in early pregnancy.


METHODS
Twenty-nine healthy women seeking termination of pregnancy up to 40 days' gestation were recruited. The study group (n=14) was given 150 mg mifepristone 24 h before vacuum aspiration. The control group (n=15) was not given any treatment prior to vacuum aspiration. Villi were collected, and immunohistochemical analysis and real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) were used to detect the locations and the expression levels of OPN, IL-6 and LIF mRNA.


RESULTS
In the study group, the expression level of OPN protein in the villous trophoblast and stoma cells was significantly lower (p<.01), while the expression levels of IL-6 and LIF protein were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<.01, p<.05, respectively). Compared with the control group, the relative expression of OPN mRNA was significantly lower (p=.001) and the IL-6 and LIF mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in the study group (p=.003 and p<.001, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
OPN, IL-6 and LIF may have critical roles in human pregnancy maintenance. These three factors may be involved in the immunological reaction initiated by mifepristone.
Pei
Kaiyan
K
Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, People's Republic of China. psmile1971@163.com
Yu
Cuihua
C
Shi
Xinquan
X
Jia
Mengchun
M
D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D015850:Interleukin-6; C507837:LIF protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053495:Osteopontin; D015735:Mifepristone