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Interleukin-8 stimulates progesterone production via the MEK pathway in ovarian theca cells

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Abstract

Interleukin 8 (IL-8) is a chemoattractant associated with ovulation in the mammalian ovary. This chemokine is also involved in the recruitment and activation of neutrophils. Using bovine tissue, we examined the possible role of IL-8 in steroid production by theca cells of the large ovarian follicles. IL-8 promoted progesterone production and stimulated StAR expression in cultured theca cells. The inhibitor of p38 did not disturb the P4 production and StAR expression in IL-8-treated theca cells. On the other hand, the inhibitor of MEK disturbed the P4 production and expression of StAR in theca cells treated with IL-8. These results suggest that IL-8 is associated with progesterone production in bovine theca cells via the MEK pathway.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr K. Okuda, Okayama University, Japan, for P4 antibodies. This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), and the Global Center of Excellence (COE) program, Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology, Japan. C.M is supported by JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Animal and Food Hygiene, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-machi, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan

    Takashi Shimizu, Eri Imamura, Fumie Magata, Chiaki Murayama & Akio Miyamoto

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  1. Takashi Shimizu
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  2. Eri Imamura
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  3. Fumie Magata
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  4. Chiaki Murayama
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  5. Akio Miyamoto
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Correspondence to Takashi Shimizu.

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Shimizu, T., Imamura, E., Magata, F. et al. Interleukin-8 stimulates progesterone production via the MEK pathway in ovarian theca cells. Mol Cell Biochem 374, 157–161 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-012-1515-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-012-1515-4

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