VANINA ANDREA FONTANA1, MELISA SANCHEZ1, ELISA CEBRAL2 AND JUAN CARLOS CALVO1,3*
BIOCELL, Vol.34, No.1, pp. 37-44, 2010, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2010.34.037
Abstract Implantation is one of the most regulated processes in human reproduction, by endocrine and immunological systems. Cytokines are involved in embryo-maternal communication and an impaired balance could result in pregnancy loss. Here we investigated the effect of interleukin 1-β on the activity of two important metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) that are involved in extracellular matrix remodeling as well as the secretion of leptin, one of the reproductive hormones actively regulating their activity and secretion. We found that IL-1β activates matrix metalloproteinase activity as well as increases leptin secretion. We propose that this interleukin, through the More >