Fertility and Sterility
Volume 90, Issue 2 , Pages 391-394, August 2008

The effect of interleukin-6 on ciliary beat frequency in the human fallopian tube

  • A. Papathanasiou, M.R.C.O.G.
    • ,
  • O. Djahanbakhch, F.R.C.O.G., M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Professor O. Djahanbakhch, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fourth Floor, Holland Wing, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London E1 2BB, UK (FAX: 00442073638775).
    • ,
  • E. Saridogan, Ph.D., M.R.C.O.G.
    • ,
  • R.A. Lyons, M.R.C.O.G.

Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bart's and The London and Newham University Hospitals and Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom

Received 12 May 2007; received in revised form 25 July 2007; accepted 25 July 2007. published online 20 September 2007.

Objective

To investigate the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on ciliary activity within the human fallopian tube in vitro.

Design

An experimental laboratory-based study.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Patient(s)

Fallopian tube specimens were obtained from eight women undergoing hysterectomy for fibroid uterus.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in the human fallopian tube.

Intervention(s)

After baseline CBF measurements, increasing concentrations of IL-6 (10 pg/mL, 100 pg/mL, and 1000 pg/mL) were applied to fallopian tube mucosa explants and CBF measurements repeated. An anti–IL-6 monoclonal antibody was added and CBF measured once more. Negative and antibody-only control samples were used.

Result(s)

The CBF remained unchanged with the addition of IL-6 at concentrations of 10 pg/mL and 100 pg/mL but IL-6 at 1000 pg/mL significantly decreased CBF, an effect abolished by the addition of the specific antibody.

Conclusion(s)

These data suggest that IL-6 has an inhibitory effect on ciliary activity, suggesting a possible role for this cytokine in the subfertility process. This finding may be important in conditions where there are increased IL-6 levels in the peritoneal fluid, such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Key Words: Interleukin-6, cilia, fallopian tube, infertility, antibody

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 Dr. Saridogan has received honoraria for research and teaching from Ethicon Endosurgery and Women's Health.

PII: S0015-0282(07)03024-5

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.07.1379

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 90, Issue 2 , Pages 391-394, August 2008

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