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1 May 2009 IL11 Antagonist Inhibits Uterine Stromal Differentiation, Causing Pregnancy Failure in Mice
Ellen Menkhorst, Lois Salamonsen, Lorraine Robb, Evdokia Dimitriadis
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Abstract

Hormonal contraceptives are unsuitable for many women; thus, the development of new, nonhormonal contraceptives is of great interest. In women, uterine epithelial expression of interleukin 11 (IL11) and its receptor (IL11RA) suggests IL11 is critical for blastocyst attachment during implantation. Il11ra-deficient mice are infertile due to a defective decidualization response to the blastocyst, leading to total pregnancy loss. We examined the effect of administering a PEGylated IL11 antagonist, PEGIL11A (where PEG is polyethylene glycol), on pregnancy outcomes in mice and IL11 signaling in human endometrial epithelial cells (HES). PEGIL11A was detected in sera up to 72 h after intraperitoneal (IP) injection versus up to 2 h for the non-PEGylated antagonist. Following IP injection, PEGIL11A localized to uterine decidual cells and reduced immunoreactive cyclin D3 (IL11 decidual target). To inhibit IL11 action during early decidualization, PEGIL11A or control were administered IP on Days 3–6 (beginning just prior to maximal decidual Il11 expression). On Day 6, mesometrial decidualization was disturbed in PEGIL11A-treated animals with regions of hemorrhage visible in the mesometrial decidua. On Day 10, severe decidual destruction was visible: implantation sites contained significant hemorrhage, and the uterine luminal epithelium had reformed, suggesting a return to estrous cycling. These results demonstrate that PEGIL11A blocked IL11 action in the decidua during early decidualization, which totally abolished pregnancy and which is equivalent to the Il11ra−/− mouse. PEGIL11A significantly diminished STAT3 phosphorylation in HES cells in vitro (P ≤ 0.05). This study provides valuable information for PEGIL11A that could lead to the development of this protein as a nonhormonal contraceptive.

Ellen Menkhorst, Lois Salamonsen, Lorraine Robb, and Evdokia Dimitriadis "IL11 Antagonist Inhibits Uterine Stromal Differentiation, Causing Pregnancy Failure in Mice," Biology of Reproduction 80(5), 920-927, (1 May 2009). https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.108.073601
Received: 23 September 2008; Accepted: 1 December 2008; Published: 1 May 2009
KEYWORDS
contraception
cytokines
decidua
interleukin 11
uterus
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