Expression of interleukin-11 receptor α and interleukin-11 protein in the endometrium of normal fertile women and women with recurrent miscarriage

• Published in: Journal of reproductive immunology 2004-12, Vol.64 (1), p.145-155
• Main Authors: Linjawi, S., Li, T.C., Tuckerman, E.M., Blakemore, A.I.F., Laird, S.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion, Habitual - immunology; Abortion, Habitual - pathology; Adult; Cytokines; Endometrium; Endometrium - immunology; Endometrium - pathology; Epithelium - immunology; Epithelium - pathology; Female; Gene Expression Regulation - immunology; Humans; IL-11; Interleukin-11 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit; Pregnancy; Receptors, Interleukin - biosynthesis; Receptors, Interleukin-11; Recurrent miscarriage; Stromal Cells - immunology; Stromal Cells - pathology
• ISSN: 0165-0378; 1872-7603
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2004.08.007

Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a member of the IL-6 family of cytokines. Previous studies have suggested that IL-11 may play a role in human endometrial function. In this study, we have used immunocytochemistry to compare endometrial IL-11Rα and IL-11 expression in precisely timed peri-implantation biopsies from 9 normal fertile women and 16 recurrent miscarriage (RM) women. Immunocytochemistry was semi-quantified by obtaining an H-score value, which showed increased expression of both IL-11 and IL-11Rα in epithelial cells compared to stromal cells in all biopsies. There was a significant ( P < 0.01) reduction in epithelial cell IL-11, but not stromal cell IL-11, expression in endometrium from RM women compared to normal fertile women. There were no significant differences in expression of IL-11Rα protein in both stromal and epithelial cells in endometrium from the two groups of women. This work shows the presence of IL-11 and IL-11Rα within the endometrium of RM women during the peri-implantation period. The decreased expression of IL-11 in epithelial endometrium in RM women suggests that this cytokine may play a role in preventing miscarriage.