Regulation of interleukin-11 expression in ovulatory follicles of the rat ovary

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the regulation of interleukin (IL)-11 expression, as well as the role of IL-11, during ovulation in gonadotropin-primed immature rats. Injection of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), followed by human CG (hCG) to induce superovulation stimulated expression of the Il11 gene in theca cells within 6h, as revealed by northern blot and in situ hybridisation analyses. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the IL-11 receptor, α subunit gene was expressed in granulosa and theca cells and that injection of hCG had no effect on its expression. IL-11 protein expression was stimulated in theca cells by hCG. LH-stimulated increases in Il11 mRNA levels in cultured preovulatory follicles were inhibited by protein kinase A and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4 were detected in preovulatory follicles, and the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide, but not the TLR2 ligand Pam3Cys, increased Il11 mRNA levels in theca cells, but not in granulosa cells. Treatment of preovulatory follicles with IL-11 stimulated progesterone production and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (Star) gene expression. Together, these results indicate that IL-11 in theca cells is stimulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling and TLR4 activation, and increases progesterone production during ovulation.

Core Binding Factors are essential for ovulation, luteinization, and female fertility in mice

“…Previously, Liu et al 39 showed that the levels of Il6 mRNA were increased in both granulosa cells and COCs after hCG stimulation, and the treatment of IL6/its soluble receptor (IL-6SR) induced the expansion of mouse COCs, proposing that IL6 could act as a potent autocrine mediator involved in COC expansion. Jang et al 40 documented the localization of Il11 mRNA predominantly in the thecal layer of the rat ovary after hCG administration. In addition, the treatment of IL11 increased progesterone production in cultured rat preovulatory follicles 40 .…”

“…Jang et al 40 documented the localization of Il11 mRNA predominantly in the thecal layer of the rat ovary after hCG administration. In addition, the treatment of IL11 increased progesterone production in cultured rat preovulatory follicles 40 . Our current data demonstrated the localization of mRNA for Il6 and Il11 to granulosa and theca cells of preovulatory follicles and the compromised expression of these genes in the mutant mouse ovary.…”

The Potential Role of Interleukin-11 in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

“…The role IL-11 plays in folliculogenesis and/or oocyte development was not clear until Jang et al [43] examined the regulation of IL-11 expression as well as the role of IL-11 during ovulation. They observed that LH stimulated the expression of IL-11 protein in theca cells and LH-stimulated IL-11 mRNA levels were repressed by protein kinase A and mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors (Table 4).…”

“…This is by far the only study that has revealed for the first time the regulation and the role of IL-11 expression during ovulation. IL-11 in theca cells is activated by mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and TLR4 activation, leading to enhanced progesterone production during ovulation [43] (Table 3).…”

In vitro maturation in the presence of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor modulates gene and miRNA expression in bovine oocytes and embryos

“…IL-11 is primarily an anti-inflammatory cytokine that was initially described as a growth factor in hematopoiesis, driving megakaryocyte differentiation and synergizing with other factors (reviewed by Du and Williams 24 ). IL-11 is produced in preovulatory follicles by theca cells in response to LH and stimulates progesterone production and follicle development 25 . LIF was first described as a protein factor that induces differentiation in M1 murine myeloid leukemic cells 26 .…”