Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are candidate embryo-maternal signalling molecules which are present within the uterine luminal micro-environment. We examined the relative expression of the mRNAs encoding LIF and IL-6, as well as the LIF-binding subunit (LIFR-beta) of the LIF receptor and, as a potential downstream cytokine-responsive gene, beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m), in porcine peri-implantation conceptuses, and in placenta and endometrium during early and mid-pregnancy. Peri-implantation spherical and filamentous conceptuses expressed LIFR-beta and beta(2)m mRNAs with no LIF mRNA present. Rapid development in days 11/12 spherical conceptuses to the filamentous stage was accompanied by transiently increased IL-6 gene expression. The corresponding endometrium, in contrast, expressed LIF in addition to these other mRNAs. LIFR-beta, IL-6 and beta(2)m, but not LIF mRNAs, were expressed in the Jag-1 cell line, an in vitro model for porcine day 14 trophoblast. The greatest steady-state amounts of LIF, LIFR-beta and IL-6 mRNAs in both the endometrium and placenta were evident at the post-implantation stages (days 30 and 60>day 18 of pregnancy). Treatment of porcine endometrial explants with human recombinant (hr)LIF or hrIL-6 resulted in no change in, or diminished, the presence of endometrial beta(2)m mRNA, respectively. Addition of LIF to peri-implantation conceptus explant cultures, in contrast, induced beta(2)m mRNA synthesis. These results highlight the potential importance of both the endometrium and placenta as sources, as well as targets, of these cytokines throughout pregnancy. Cytokine modulation of beta(2)m, a known in vitro mitogen, may constitute one mechanism for local control of trophoblast and endometrial proliferation.
Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.