Department of Diagnostic Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054;
Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030; and.
J Immunol. 2014 Jul 1;193(1):161-9. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1400381. Epub 2014 May 23.
Ovaries are among the most active organs. Frequently occurring events such as ovulation and ovarian atresia are accompanied with tissue destruction and repairing. Critical roles of immune cells or molecules in those events have been well recognized. IL-33 is a new member of the IL-1 cytokine gene family. Recent studies suggest its roles beyond immune responses. We systemically examined its expression in ovaries for its potential roles in ovarian functions. During ovulation, a high level of IL-33 was transiently expressed, making it the most significantly upregulated immune gene. During estrous cycle, IL-33 expression levels fluctuated along with numbers of ovarian macrophages and atresia wave. Cells with nuclear form of IL-33 (nIL-33(+) cells) were mostly endothelial cells of veins, either in the inner layer of theca of ovulating follicles during ovulation, or surrounding follicles during estrous cycle. Changes in number of nIL-33(+) cells showed a tendency similar to that in IL-33 mRNA level during estrous cycle. However, the cell number sharply declined before a rapid increase of macrophages and a surge of atresia. The decline in nIL-33(+) cell number was coincident with detection of higher level of the cytokine form of IL-33 by Western blot, suggesting a release of cytokine form of IL-33 before the surge of macrophage migration and atresia. However, IL-33 Ab, either by passive transfer or immunization, showed a limited effect on ovulation or atresia. It raises a possibility of IL-33's role in tissue homeostasis after ovarian events, instead of a direct involvement in ovarian functions.
卵巢是最活跃的器官之一。经常发生的事件，如排卵和卵巢闭锁，伴随着组织破坏和修复。免疫细胞或分子在这些事件中的关键作用已得到充分认识。IL-33 是 IL-1 细胞因子基因家族的新成员。最近的研究表明，它在免疫反应之外还有其他作用。我们系统地检查了它在卵巢中的表达，以研究其在卵巢功能中的潜在作用。在排卵期间，IL-33 短暂表达，使其成为表达水平上调最显著的免疫基因。在动情周期中，IL-33 的表达水平随卵巢巨噬细胞数量和闭锁波而波动。具有 IL-33 核形式（nIL-33(+)细胞）的细胞主要是排卵滤泡内层的静脉内皮细胞，或动情周期中围绕滤泡的细胞。nIL-33(+)细胞数量的变化与动情周期中 IL-33 mRNA 水平的变化趋势相似。然而，在巨噬细胞数量急剧增加和闭锁大量增加之前，nIL-33(+)细胞数量急剧下降。nIL-33(+)细胞数量的下降与 Western blot 检测到更高水平的细胞因子形式的 IL-33 同时发生，这表明细胞因子形式的 IL-33 在巨噬细胞迁移和闭锁激增之前被释放。然而，IL-33 Ab 无论是通过被动转移还是免疫接种，对排卵或闭锁的作用都有限。这表明 IL-33 在卵巢事件后的组织稳态中发挥作用，而不是直接参与卵巢功能。
