The expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and their receptors in fallopian tubes with ectopic tubal gestation

Objective To investigate the level of expression of the cytokines interleukin (IL) -8 and IL-6 and their receptors in fallopian tubes with tubal ectopic gestation. Design Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to study the expression of IL-8, CXCR1, CXCR2, IL-6, and IL-6 receptor alpha in fallopian tubes with tubal ectopic gestation in comparison with normal fallopian tubes. Setting Hospital. Patient(s) We studied fallopian tubes from 50 patients with tubal ectopic gestation and normal fallopian tubes from 25 patients who had hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy for uterine or ovarian lesions. Intervention(s) The expression of the chemokines/cytokines and their receptors was evaluated by IHC. Main Outcome Measure(s) Level of expression and tissue distribution of the different antigens. Result(s) IHC results showed that the expression levels of IL-6 and IL-8, as well as CXCR1, were significantly up-regulated, particularly near the implantation site in fallopian tubes with tubal gestation, while the expression levels of CXCR2 and IL-6Rα were not changed in comparison with normal fallopian tubes. Conclusion(s) The results suggest a role for IL-6, IL-8, and CXCR1 in the pathophysiology of tubal ectopic gestation.