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Effect of IL‐1β and IL‐6 on Oxytocin Secretion in Human Uterine Smooth Muscle Cells
Author(s) -
FRIEBEHOFFMANN ULRIKE,
CHIAO JYEPING,
RAUK PHILLIP N.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0897.2001.d01-6.x
Subject(s) - secretion , myometrium , extracellular , proinflammatory cytokine , oxytocin , intracellular , medicine , endocrinology , interleukin , biology , in vivo , cytokine , chemistry , inflammation , microbiology and biotechnology , uterus
PROBLEM: Infection‐mediated preterm labor results in the production of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). Oxytocin (OT) plays a key role in the process of labor. This study investigates the effect of IL‐1β and IL‐6 on intra‐and extracellular OT in human smooth muscle cells and evaluates IL‐1β induced changes in IL‐6 production.
METHOD OF STUDY: Primary cultures of human myometrium, obtained from term pregnant women ( n =7) were incubated with either IL‐1β or IL‐6 for 0–24 hr. Intra‐ and extracellular OT peptide concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and IL‐6 mRNA and protein were evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS: Both, IL‐1β and IL‐6 led to an increase in OT secretion, which was accompanied by a reduction of the intracellular OT peptide pool. IL‐1β significantly induced IL‐6 mRNA expression and protein secretion, which did not further enhance IL‐1β induced OT secretion.
CONCLUSIONS: The induction of OT secretion by proinflammatory cytokines in human myometrium in vitro , supports the concept of a thus regulated infection‐triggered preterm labor process in vivo .