title: Expression of IL-18, IL-18 binding protein, and IL-18 receptor by normal and cancerous human ovarian tissues: possible implication of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of ovarian carcinoma.
abstract: Proinflammatory cytokine IL-18 has been shown to be elevated in the sera of ovarian carcinoma patients. The aim of the study was to examine the levels and cellular origin of IL-18, IL-18 binding protein, and IL-18 receptor in normal and cancerous ovarian tissues. Ovarian tissue samples were examined by immunohistochemical staining for IL-18, IL-18BP, and IL-18R and mRNA of these cytokines was analyzed with semiquantitative PT-PCR. IL-18 levels were significantly higher in cancerous ovarian tissues (P = 0.0007), IL-18BP levels were significantly higher in normal ovarian tissues (P = 0.04), and the ratio of IL-18/IL-18BP was significantly higher in cancerous ovarian tissues (P = 0.036). Cancerous ovarian tissues expressed significantly higher IL-18 mRNA levels (P = 0.025), while there was no difference in the expression of IL-18BP mRNA and IL-18R mRNA between cancerous and normal ovarian tissues. IL-18 and IL-18BP were expressed dominantly in the epithelial cells of both cancerous and normal ovarian tissues, while IL-18R was expressed dominantly in the epithelial cells of cancerous ovarian tissues but expressed similarly in the epithelial and stromal cells of normal cancerous tissues. This study indicates a possible role of IL-18, IL-18BP, and IL-18R in the pathogenesis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
authors: The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Be'er Sheva, Israel ; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be'er Sheva, Israel.
authors: Liat
authors: L
authors: Medina
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be'er Sheva, Israel ; Unit of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, 84105 Be'er Sheva, Israel.
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Rabinovich
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be'er Sheva, Israel ; Unit of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, 84105 Be'er Sheva, Israel.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Piura
authors: Unit of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, 84105 Be'er Sheva, Israel ; Institute of Pathology, Soroka University Medical Center, 84105 Be'er Sheva, Israel.
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Dyomin
authors: Unit of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, 84105 Be'er Sheva, Israel ; Institute of Pathology, Soroka University Medical Center, 84105 Be'er Sheva, Israel.
authors: Ruthy Shaco
authors: RS
authors: Levy
authors: The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Be'er Sheva, Israel ; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Be'er Sheva, Israel.
authors: Mahmoud
authors: M
authors: Huleihel
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053727:Interleukin-18 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C508572:IL18R1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020382:Interleukin-18; D053727:Interleukin-18 Receptor alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C118370:interleukin-18 binding protein