Abnormal Interleukin-1 Receptor Type II Gene Expression in the Endometrium of Women with Endometriosis1

Kharfi A, A Kharfi, Abdelaziz Kharfi, Annie Boucher, Boucher A, A Boucher, Akoum A, A Akoum, Ali Akoum
Biology of reproduction · 2002 · vol. 66(2) , pp. 401–406 · doi:10.1095/biolreprod66.2.401 · PMID:11804955 · W2039777780
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Interleukin-1 receptor type II mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the endometrium of women with endometriosis, especially in early stages, indicating a reduced capability to down-regulate IL-1 activity.

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Abstract

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a major proinflammatory cytokine that is believed to play a central role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. The IL-1 receptor type II (IL-1RII) is known to bind to IL-1 and to inhibit its biological effects. In our previous studies, we showed that human endometrium expresses IL-1RII, and we observed reduced expression of the protein in women with endometriosis. The aim of this study was to investigate IL-1RII mRNA in the endometrial tissue of normal women (n = 26) and of patients with various degrees of endometriosis (n = 53). In situ hybridization showed that IL-1RII mRNA expression was significantly decreased in endometriosis, particularly during the early stages of the disease (stages I and II). This was quite obvious in both glandular and stromal cells, and it was corroborated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of IL-1RII mRNA in the endometrial tissue of women with (n = 10) and without (n = 8) endometriosis. The reduced levels of IL-1RII mRNA in the endometrium of women suffering from endometriosis reveals a profound defect in IL-1RII gene expression and, consequently, a reduced capability of endometrial tissue to down-regulate IL-1 activity. Defective IL-1RII gene expression during the early stages of endometriosis (stages I and II) may contribute to the etiology of the disease.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometrium Receptors, Interleukin-1 Receptors, Interleukin-1 Adult Blotting, Southern Coloring Agents Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases Humans In Situ Hybridization Interleukin-1 Interleukin-1 Receptors, Interleukin-1 Receptors, Interleukin-1 Type II

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