The Production of Interleukin-11 and Decidualization Are Compromised in Endometrial Stromal Cells Derived from Patients with Infertility

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 90; no. 3; pp. 1607 - 1612
• Main Authors: Karpovich, Natalia, Klemmt, Petra, Hwang, Jung Hye, McVeigh, J. Enda, Heath, John K., Barlow, David H., Mardon, Helen J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01-03-2005
• Subjects: 8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate - pharmacology; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; Cyclic AMP - metabolism; Decidua - physiology; Endocrinopathies; Endometrium - cytology; Endometrium - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Infertility, Female - metabolism; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 - metabolism; Interleukin-11 - antagonists & inhibitors; Interleukin-11 - metabolism; Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit; Medical sciences; Prolactin - metabolism; Receptors, Interleukin - metabolism; Receptors, Interleukin-11; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Signal Transduction - physiology; Stromal Cells - cytology; Stromal Cells - metabolism; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Human; Uterus; Female genital system; Cytokine; Interleukin 11; Stromal cell; Sterility; Decidualization; Endocrinology; Endometrium
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2004-0868

IL-11 signaling is critical for decidualization of the endometrial stroma in early pregnancy in the mouse. In this study, we investigate the function of IL-11 signaling in cAMP-induced decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells. We show that treatment of endometrial stromal cells with 8-bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP) results in an increase in the levels of secreted IL-11, whereas levels of cell surface IL-11 receptor α are similar with or without 8-Br-cAMP treatment. The production of IL-11 correlates with the production of molecular markers of decidualization, prolactin and IGF-binding protein-1. The expression of these markers is inhibited when IL-11 signaling is specifically blocked in decidualizing endometrial stromal cells by the IL-11 antagonist W147A. We demonstrate that 8-Br-cAMP-induced endometrial stromal cells derived from patients with primary infertility produce lower levels of prolactin, IGF-binding protein-1, and IL-11 than cells derived from fertile women. Our results suggest that IL-11 expression is critically important during decidualization in the human endometrium, and that aberrant regulation of endometrial IL-11 production may be associated with some types of infertility.