Interleukin-11 classic but not trans-signaling is essential for fertility in mice

Maria Agthe; Yvonne Garbers; Tracy Putoczki; Christoph Garbers

doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2017.05.015

Interleukin-11 classic but not trans-signaling is essential for fertility in mice

Placenta. 2017 Sep:57:13-16. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.05.015. Epub 2017 May 28.

Authors

Maria Agthe¹, Yvonne Garbers², Tracy Putoczki³, Christoph Garbers⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Biochemistry, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.
² Institute of Psychology, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.
³ The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Institute of Biochemistry, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: cgarbers@biochem.uni-kiel.de.

PMID: 28864002
DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.05.015

Abstract

The cytokine interleukin (IL)-11 activates its target cells through binding to the membrane-bound IL-11 receptor (IL-11R). Female mice deficient in IL-11R (Il11ra^-/-) are infertile due to a defect in decidualization when the blastocyst implants. We have recently shown that IL-11 can also signal via a soluble IL-11R (trans-signaling). Which IL-11 pathway is required for fertility in mice is unknown. We confirm that female Il11ra^-/-mice, lacking both classic and trans-signaling, are infertile. In contrast, the selective blockade of IL-11 trans-signaling does not affect fertility in mice. These results show that classic, but not trans-signaling of IL-11, is essential for fertility in mice.

Keywords: Blastocyst; Fertility; Interleukin-11; Interleukin-11 receptor; Trans-signaling.

MeSH terms

Animals
Female
Fertility*
Interleukin-11 / metabolism*
Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit / genetics
Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
Male
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Knockout

Substances

Interleukin-11
Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit