Interleukin-18 system messenger RNA and protein expression in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle

Analysis of interleukin-18 promoter polymorphisms and changes in interleukin-18 serum levels underscores the involvement of interleukin-18 in recurrent spontaneous miscarriage

“…Evidence supporting this hypothesis are the findings that a large population of natural killer cells is present at uterine and embryonic implantation sites, thus implicating natural killer cells in the process of ''decidualization'' in early stages of pregnancy (39). Our findings on lower serum levels of IL-18 in patients with RSM compared with controls corroborates data of earlier studies that suggested the importance of an appropriate IL-18 agonist to IL-18-binding protein ratio in modulating T helper cell 1/T helper cell 2 responses during early embryonic implantation (7,36).…”

“…This was reminiscent of previous findings documenting reduced IL-18 levels in patients experiencing miscarriage (21), suggesting that increased IL-18 levels are critical in early pregnancy (12,13) and that changes in IL-18 levels may discriminate between successful pregnancies and miscarriages (12) and determine the outcome of subsequent pregnancies, as was suggested (21). However, this is an oversimplification given the wide range of serum IL-18 values seen here (20.2-1,485.7 pg/mL for patients and 45.1-1,837.9 pg/mL for control women) and elsewhere (21) and the sequential expression of cytokines in uterine, decidual, and placental tissues at distinct stages in pregnancy (13,36). Although the exact role that IL-18 plays in embryo-maternal interactions, especially during early stages of implantation (36,37), remains to be determined, our data support the notion that implantation failure and miscarriage may be attributed, at least in part, to reduced IL-18 expression and secretion.…”

“…However, this is an oversimplification given the wide range of serum IL-18 values seen here (20.2-1,485.7 pg/mL for patients and 45.1-1,837.9 pg/mL for control women) and elsewhere (21) and the sequential expression of cytokines in uterine, decidual, and placental tissues at distinct stages in pregnancy (13,36). Although the exact role that IL-18 plays in embryo-maternal interactions, especially during early stages of implantation (36,37), remains to be determined, our data support the notion that implantation failure and miscarriage may be attributed, at least in part, to reduced IL-18 expression and secretion.…”

Emerging treatment of endometriosis

“…A major function of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-18 is the regulation of the adaptive immune response (66). IL-12 induces other cytokines, particularly interferon-c (IFN-c), which coordinate the ensuing immune response.…”

Eutopic endometrial interleukin-18 system mRNA and protein expression at the level of endometrial-myometrial interface in adenomyosis patients

“…Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a new member of the interleukin family (12,13). The IL-18 system is comprised of IL-18, IL-18 receptor (IL-18R), and IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP).…”