Effect of interferon-gamma treatment on the expression of interleukin-1beta at the maternal-fetal interface of pregnant rats.

In the present study, the possible mechanisms by which interferon (IFN)-gamma affects pregnancy were investigated using the cytokine network model. The IFN-gamma-induced expression of interleukin (IL)-1beta was examined using western blotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The results showed that IFN-gamma treatment significantly decreased the expression of uterine IL-1beta protein during the preimplantation, post-implantation and mid-gestation periods. The expression of IL-1beta protein was increased after IFN-gamma treatment compared with the control group in late pregnancy. In the placenta, IL-1beta protein levels were significantly increased after IFN-gamma treatment in early and mid-pregnancy. In late pregnancy, IFN-gamma treatment significantly decreased placental IL-1beta protein levels. IL-1beta was mainly expressed in the myometrium, uterine arteries, decidua basalis, trophospongium of the junctional layer and trophoblastic epithelium of the labyrinthine layers. IL-1beta was mainly located in the cytoplasm of in vitro cultured endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). IFN-gamma treatment did not affect the distribution of IL-1beta, only the expression of IL-1beta. The effects of IFN-gamma on the proliferation of ESCs were determined using an MTS (a novel tetrazolium compound) assay. IFN-gamma treatment inhibited the proliferation of ESCs and decreased the weight of the fetus and placenta. These results indicate that exogenous IFN-gamma affects the expression of IL-1beta and inhibits ESC proliferation.