Effects of IFN-γ on IL-18 Expression in Pregnant Rats and Pregnancy Outcomes

The present study focused on establishing the effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) on interleukin-18 (IL-18) expression patterns and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant rats. Pregnant rats at the post-implantation stage were randomized into control, low IFN-γ (L-IFN-γ) and high IFN-γ groups (H-IFN-γ) that received normal saline, 100 IU/g of IFN-γ and 500 IU/g of IFN-γ vaginal muscular injection, respectively. The effects of IFN-γ on IL-18 expression and pregnancy outcomes were assessed systematically using several methods, including immunohistochemistry streptavidin-perosidase (SP), image pattern analysis, enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA), whole blood count (WBC) count, microscopy and visual observation. IL-18 was detected in the uteri of all pregnant rats, and mainly distributed in the endometrium, decidual cells, vascular endothelium and myometrium. Immunohistochemistry and image pattern analyses revealed significantly lower IL-18 expression in the H-IFN-γ group compared to the L-IFN-γ and control groups (p<0.01), indicating that high doses of IFN-γ induce downregulation of IL-18 in the uterus of pregnant rats. ELISA results disclosed that IL-18 expression in peripheral blood of the H-IFN-γ group was lower than that of the L-IFN-γ group (p<0.05), and significantly reduced compared to the control group (p<0.01). Moreover, the number of peripheral leukocytes in the H-IFN-γ group was significantly higher than those in the control and L-IFN-γ groups (p<0.01). Morphology analysis showed no evident differences between the L-IFN-γ and control groups. However, for the H-IFN-γ group, uterine mucosa bleeding, necrosis and excoriation were observed using microscopy. Visual observation revealed marroon, swelling, crassitude and no embryo in the uterus, which are obvious indicators of abortion. These results indicate that IFN-γ plays a regulatory role in IL-18 expression in the uterus and peripheral blood of pregnant rats at the post-implantation stage. Moreover, high levels (500 IU/g) of IFN-γ influence normal pregnancy at the early stages in rats by downregulating IL-18 expression in the uterus and peripheral blood and increasing the number of peripheral leukocytes, consequently triggering termination of pregnancy.