TY - JOUR
T1 - Potential therapeutic use of cytokines in gynaecology and obstetrics
AU - Bukulmez, Orhan
AU - Arici, Aydin
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - Therapeutic manipulation of cytokines may be accomplished by inhibition of a particular cytokine using an antagonist or by administering the cytokine itself. Cytokines appear to have a number of physiological roles, and consequently therapeutic implications, in obstetrics and gynaecology In the central nervous system, interleukin-1 (IL-1) decreases gonadotropin releasing hormone and luteinising hormone levels and increases prolactin levels. Interferon-α and -γ and tumour necrosis factor-α have negative effects on sperm motility and penetration rates. Seminal IL-6 and IL-8 levels correlate negatively with fertility. IL-8 seems to be involved in periovulatory events by attracting and activating neutrophils that play a role in timely follicular rupture. Leukaemia inhibitory factor has been shown to be essential for blastocyst implantation. Interleukin-1 may be one of the signals for the onset of human parturition, and may also play a role in the initiation of preterm labour associated with intra-amniotic infection. In a mouse model, pretreatment with subcutaneous IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) prevented IL-1-induced preterm parturition, suggesting a role for the use of anticytokine agents in the treatment of infection associated preterm labour. IL-8 induces cervical ripening when applied locally to the cervix in rabbits, which indicates its pivotal role in cervical maturation. The evaluation of cytokine levels, especially IL-1, may be used as a diagnostic tool to monitor osteoporosis, and drugs such as IL-1ra that interfere with cytokine action could provide new therapies for the effective management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In spite of all these possibilities, current cytokine-based therapies are still experimental, and numerous problems need to be resolved before they are used in routine clinical applications.
AB - Therapeutic manipulation of cytokines may be accomplished by inhibition of a particular cytokine using an antagonist or by administering the cytokine itself. Cytokines appear to have a number of physiological roles, and consequently therapeutic implications, in obstetrics and gynaecology In the central nervous system, interleukin-1 (IL-1) decreases gonadotropin releasing hormone and luteinising hormone levels and increases prolactin levels. Interferon-α and -γ and tumour necrosis factor-α have negative effects on sperm motility and penetration rates. Seminal IL-6 and IL-8 levels correlate negatively with fertility. IL-8 seems to be involved in periovulatory events by attracting and activating neutrophils that play a role in timely follicular rupture. Leukaemia inhibitory factor has been shown to be essential for blastocyst implantation. Interleukin-1 may be one of the signals for the onset of human parturition, and may also play a role in the initiation of preterm labour associated with intra-amniotic infection. In a mouse model, pretreatment with subcutaneous IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) prevented IL-1-induced preterm parturition, suggesting a role for the use of anticytokine agents in the treatment of infection associated preterm labour. IL-8 induces cervical ripening when applied locally to the cervix in rabbits, which indicates its pivotal role in cervical maturation. The evaluation of cytokine levels, especially IL-1, may be used as a diagnostic tool to monitor osteoporosis, and drugs such as IL-1ra that interfere with cytokine action could provide new therapies for the effective management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In spite of all these possibilities, current cytokine-based therapies are still experimental, and numerous problems need to be resolved before they are used in routine clinical applications.
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U2 - 10.2165/00063030-199708030-00005
DO - 10.2165/00063030-199708030-00005
M3 - Review article
C2 - 18020510
AN - SCOPUS:0030878496
SN - 1173-8804
VL - 8
SP - 193
EP - 204
JO - BioDrugs
JF - BioDrugs
IS - 3
ER -