Objective: To investigate the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on ciliary activity within the human fallopian tube in vitro.
Design: An experimental laboratory-based study.
Setting: University teaching hospital.
Patient(s): Fallopian tube specimens were obtained from eight women undergoing hysterectomy for fibroid uterus.
Main outcome measure(s): Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in the human fallopian tube.
Intervention(s): After baseline CBF measurements, increasing concentrations of IL-6 (10 pg/mL, 100 pg/mL, and 1000 pg/mL) were applied to fallopian tube mucosa explants and CBF measurements repeated. An anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody was added and CBF measured once more. Negative and antibody-only control samples were used.
Result(s): The CBF remained unchanged with the addition of IL-6 at concentrations of 10 pg/mL and 100 pg/mL but IL-6 at 1000 pg/mL significantly decreased CBF, an effect abolished by the addition of the specific antibody.
Conclusion(s): These data suggest that IL-6 has an inhibitory effect on ciliary activity, suggesting a possible role for this cytokine in the subfertility process. This finding may be important in conditions where there are increased IL-6 levels in the peritoneal fluid, such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease.