Interleukin-6 regulates expression of Fos and Jun genes to affect the development of mouse preimplantation embryos

We investigated whether recombinant mouse interleukin-6 (IL-6) affects the development of preimplantation embryos and induces the -signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway by binding IL-6 signal transducer (IL-6st) and regulating Fos and Jun gene expression, thereby accounting for the negative effect of superovulation on embryo development.

We compared rates of blastocyst formation from embryos cultured with different concentrations of IL-6 or/and anti-interleukin 6 receptor antibody (anti-IL-6RAb) in superovulated experimental and normal control groups. IL-6 expression in preimplantation embryos was determined by immunofluorescence identification. Fos, Jun and IL-6st messenger RNA expression was detected by PCR and microarray experiments.

Rates of blastocyst formation significantly decreased in superovulated embryos, whether or not they were incubated in 0.1, 1, 25 or 50 pg/mL IL-6, (P < 0.01) compared to embryos from naturally ovulated controls, whereas incubation in 5 and 10 pg/mL IL-6 reversed the negative effects of superovulation. The addition of anti-IL-6RAb to naturally ovulated embryos reduced blastocyst rates to those of superovulated embryos. Gene chip analysis indicated that the JAK-STAT signaling pathway contained differentially expressed IL-6, IL-6st, Jun and Fos genes. Both anti-IL-6RAb or ovarian stimulation downregulated IL-6st, Jun, and Fos messenger RNA expression, but expression of the same three genes increased in 5 pg/mL IL-6.

Ovarian stimulation negatively impacts the development of preimplantation embryos by reducing IL-6 release. IL-6 affects the rate of development of zygotes to blastocyst by regulating IL-6st, Fos and Jun expression in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway.