title: Expression of mRNA and protein of IL-18 and its receptor in human follicular granulosa cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is no information available about the IL-18 receptor in ovarian follicles, so the present study attempts to demonstrate the expression of IL-18 and its receptor in human granulosa cells (GCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the concentration of IL-18 in serum and follicular fluid (FF), we collected serum and FF from 102 women undergoing oocyte retrieval. Also, to detect expression of IL-18 and its receptor by luteinized GCs, these cells were pooled six times from a total of twenty individual patients with 5-16 follicles each. The IL-18 concentration was determined by ELISA and the expression of IL-18 and its receptor by immunocytochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that the median IL-18 concentration in serum, 159.27 pg/ml (IQR 121.41-210.1), was significantly higher than in FF, 142.1 pg/ml (IQR 95.7-176.5), p < 0.001. Moreover, we found that IL-18 and its receptor are expressed by GCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of IL-18 in FF and the expression of IL-18 and its receptor by GCs suggest an important role for this cytokine in ovarian function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. asalmassi@email.uni-kiel.de.|Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Women's Hospital, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Christian-Albrechts-University, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, House 24, 24105, Kiel, Germany. asalmassi@email.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmassi
authors.affiliation: Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fattahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nouri
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hedderich
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Women's Hospital, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Christian-Albrechts-University, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, House 24, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Schmutzler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D053724:Receptors, Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053724:Receptors, Interleukin-18
keywords: Granulosa cells; IL-18; IL-18 receptor; IVF–ICSI