Interleukin 11 advances progesterone-induced decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells

Abstract

Differentiation of endometrial stromal cells into decidual cells is crucial for embryo implantation and placentation. Interleukin (IL)-11 signalling is essential for adequate decidualization in the mouse uterus. We examined the role of IL-11 during progesterone-induced decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells over a 10-12 day period, using prolactin (PRL) production as a decidual marker. These cells produced biologically active IL-11 and expressed IL-11, IL-11Ralpha and PRL mRNA during decidualization. Neutralization of endogenous IL-11 with an anti-human (hu)IL-11 antibody (AB) reduced production of PRL from day 8 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-1, another m..