Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)/fibroblast growth factor inducible-14 might regulate the effects of interleukin 18 and 15 in the human endometrium.

Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) could play a role in the regulation of interleukin (IL)-15 and IL-18, cytokines crucial for angiogenesis and uterine natural killer (uNK) cell recruitment during embryo implantation. We therefore confirmed the endometrial presence of TWEAK/fibroblast growth factor inducible-14 (Fn-14) and documented simultaneously the cytotoxic KIR receptor (NKp46) of uNK cells in the human endometrium while TWEAK, Fn-14, IL-15, and IL-18 mRNA were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction in relation to the recruitment of CD56+ cells among fertile control women and patients who had failed to implant after assisted reproduction treatment.