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Ji K, Zhong J, Cui L, Wang X, Chen LN, Wen B, Yang F, Deng W, Pan X, Wang L, Bao J, Chen Y, Liu H. Exploring myometrial microenvironment changes at the single-cell level from nonpregnant to term pregnant states. Physiol Genomics 2024; 56:32-47. [PMID: 37955337 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00067.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The microenvironment and cell populations within the myometrium play crucial roles in maintaining uterine structural integrity and protecting the fetus during pregnancy. However, the specific changes occurring at the single-cell level in the human myometrium between nonpregnant (NP) and term pregnant (TP) states remain unexplored. In this study, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) to construct a transcriptomic atlas of individual cells in the myometrium of NP and TP women. Integrated analysis of scRNA-Seq and ST data revealed spatially distinct transcriptional characteristics and examined cell-to-cell communication patterns based on ligand-receptor interactions. We identified and categorized 87,845 high-quality individual cells into 12 populations from scRNA-Seq data of 12 human myometrium tissues. Our findings demonstrated alterations in the proportions of five subpopulations of smooth muscle cells in TP. Moreover, an increase in monocytic cells, particularly M2 macrophages, was observed in TP myometrium samples, suggesting their involvement in the anti-inflammatory response. This study provides unprecedented single-cell resolution of the NP and TP myometrium, offering new insights into myometrial remodeling during pregnancy.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, the myometrium was examined at the single-cell level during pregnancy. We identified spatially distinct cell populations and observed alterations in smooth muscle cells and increased M2 macrophages in term pregnant women. These findings offer unprecedented insights into myometrial remodeling and the anti-inflammatory response during pregnancy. The study advances our understanding of pregnancy-related myometrial changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyuan Ji
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Junmin Zhong
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Long Cui
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodi Wang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Na Chen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Bolun Wen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Yang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenfeng Deng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuyu Pan
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lele Wang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Junjie Bao
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - YunShan Chen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Huishu Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Ji K, Chen L, Wang X, Wen B, Yang F, Deng W, Chen Y, Zhang G, Liu H. Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing with spatial transcriptomics reveals an immune landscape of human myometrium during labour. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1234. [PMID: 37095651 PMCID: PMC10126311 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transition of the myometrium from a quiescent to a contractile state during labour is known to involve inflammation, which is characterized by the infiltration of immune cells and the secretion of cytokines. However, the specific cellular mechanisms underlying inflammation in the myometrium during human parturition are not yet fully understood. METHODS Through the analysis of transcriptomics, proteomics, and cytokine arrays, the inflammation in the human myometrium during labour was revealed. By performing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatiotemporal transcriptomic (ST) analyses on human myometrium in term in labour (TIL) and term in non-labour (TNL), we established a comprehensive landscape of immune cells, their transcriptional characteristics, distribution, function and intercellular communications during labour. Histological staining, flow cytometry, and western blotting were applied to validate some results from scRNA-seq and ST. RESULTS Our analysis identified immune cell types, including monocytes, neutrophils, T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and B cells, present in the myometrium. TIL myometrium had a higher proportion of monocytes and neutrophils than TNL myometrium. Furthermore, the scRNA-seq analysis showed an increase in M1 macrophages in TIL myometrium. CXCL8 expression was mainly observed in neutrophils and increased in TIL myometrium. CCL3 and CCL4 were principally expressed in M2 macrophages and neutrophils-6, and decreased during labour; XCL1 and XCL2 were specifically expressed in NK cells, and decreased during labour. Analysis of cytokine receptor expression revealed an increase in IL1R2, which primarily expressed in neutrophils. Finally, we visualized the spatial proximity of representative cytokines, contraction-associated genes, and corresponding receptors in ST to demonstrate their location within the myometrium. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis comprehensively revealed changes in immune cells, cytokines, and cytokine receptors during labour. It provided a valuable resource to detect and characterize inflammatory changes, yielding insights into the immune mechanisms underlying labour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyuan Ji
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lina Chen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaodi Wang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bolun Wen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenfeng Deng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunshan Chen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guozheng Zhang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huishu Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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Li K, Diakite D, Austin J, Lee J, Lantvit DD, Murphy BT, Burdette JE. The Flavonoid Baicalein Negatively Regulates Progesterone Target Genes in the Uterus in Vivo. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2022; 85:237-247. [PMID: 34935393 PMCID: PMC9164990 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c01008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Baicalein is a flavonoid extracted from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis (Chinese skullcap) and is consumed as part of this botanical dietary supplement to reduce oxidative stress, pain, and inflammation. We previously reported that baicalein can also modify receptor signaling through the progesterone receptor (PR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in vitro, which is interesting due to the well-established roles of both PR and GR in reducing inflammation. To understand the effects of baicalein on PR and GR signaling in vivo in the uterus, ovariectomized CD-1 mice were treated with DMSO, progesterone (P4), baicalein, P4 with baicalein, and P4 with RU486, a PR antagonist, for a week. The uteri were collected for histology and RNA sequencing. Our results showed that baicalein attenuated the antiproliferative effect of P4 on luminal epithelium as well as on the PR target genes HAND2 and ZBTB16. Baicalein did not change levels of PR or GR RNA or protein in the uterus. RNA sequencing data indicated that many transcripts significantly altered by baicalein were regulated in the opposite direction by P4. Similarly, a large portion of GO/KEGG terms and GSEA gene sets were altered in the opposite direction by baicalein as compared to P4 treatment. Treatment of baicalein did not change body weight, organ weight, or blood glucose level. In summary, baicalein functioned as a PR antagonist in vivo and therefore may oppose P4 action under certain conditions such as uterine hyperplasia, fibroids, and uterine cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kailiang Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Djeneba Diakite
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Julia Austin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Jeongho Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Daniel D. Lantvit
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Brian T. Murphy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Joanna E. Burdette
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
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Lai PF, Georgiou EX, Tribe RM, Johnson MR. The impact of progesterone and RU-486 on classic pro-labour proteins & contractility in human myometrial tissues during 24-hour exposure to tension & interleukin-1β. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 500:110633. [PMID: 31678609 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Increased expression of pro-labour genes that encode cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), oxytocin receptor (OTR) and connexin-43 (Cx43) at parturition is often attributed to P4 functional withdrawal, based on findings from animal models and human primary myometrial cells. However, the cause of reduced myometrial P4 responsiveness that promotes contractions at labour is not fully determined. Uterine stretch occurs with advancing gestation but most in vitro experimental models do not take this into consideration. We aimed to examine whether tissue-level myometrial stretch influences the ability of P4 to regulate pro-labour protein abundance by using myometrial biopsies from term gestation pregnant women to assess the impact of 24 h exposure to combinations of (i) stretch-mediated tension, (ii) P4 (100 nM) and (iii) an anti-progestin, RU-486 (1 μM). Firstly, we observed baseline COX-2 and Cx43 protein levels increased, whereas P4 content along with calponin-1 and progesterone receptor (PR) protein abundance decreased, in vehicle-treated tissues. P4 supplementation subtly reduced COX-2 levels in un-stretched tissues. Spontaneous and oxytocin-augmented contractility were unchanged by tissue culture exposure to P4 and/or RU-486. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β; 1 ng/ml) enhanced COX-2 protein and PGE2 content in un-stretched tissues. Overall, tissue stretch may, in part, regulate P4-sensitive pro-labour protein levels, but this is likely to be reliant on interaction with other in utero factors that were absent in our tissue cultures. More complex culture conditions should be evaluated in future to aid further development of a physiologically relevant model to improve our understanding of in utero myometrial P4 responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei F Lai
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Ektoras X Georgiou
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Rachel M Tribe
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Kings College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Mark R Johnson
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, SW10 9NH, UK.
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Aye ILMH, Moraitis AA, Stanislaus D, Charnock-Jones DS, Smith GCS. Retosiban Prevents Stretch-Induced Human Myometrial Contractility and Delays Labor in Cynomolgus Monkeys. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018; 103:1056-1067. [PMID: 29293998 PMCID: PMC5868409 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2017-02195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Context Stretch of the myometrium promotes its contractility and is believed to contribute to the control of parturition at term and to the increased risk of preterm birth in multiple pregnancies. Objective To determine the effects of the putative oxytocin receptor (OTR) inverse agonist retosiban on (1) the contractility of human myometrial explants and (2) labor in nonhuman primates. Design Human myometrial biopsies were obtained at planned term cesarean, and explants were exposed to stretch in the presence and absence of a range of drugs, including retosiban. The in vivo effects of retosiban were determined in cynomolgus monkeys. Results Prolonged mechanical stretch promoted myometrial extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 phosphorylation. Moreover, stretch-induced stimulation of myometrial contractility was prevented by ERK1/2 inhibitors. Retosiban (10 nM) prevented stretch-induced stimulation of myometrial contractility and phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of retosiban on stretch-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation was prevented by coincubation with a 100-fold excess of a peptide OTR antagonist, atosiban. Compared with vehicle-treated cynomolgus monkeys, treatment with oral retosiban (100 to 150 days of gestational age) reduced the risk of spontaneous delivery (hazard ratio = 0.07, 95% confidence interval 0.01 to 0.60, P = 0.015). Conclusions The OTR acts as a uterine mechanosensor, whereby stretch increases myometrial contractility through agonist-free activation of the OTR. Retosiban prevents this through inverse agonism of the OTR and, in vivo, reduced the likelihood of spontaneous labor in nonhuman primates. We hypothesize that retosiban may be an effective preventative treatment of preterm birth in high-risk multiple pregnancies, an area of unmet clinical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irving L M H Aye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research, Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandros A Moraitis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research, Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Dinesh Stanislaus
- Department of Reproductive Toxicology, GlaxoSmithKline, Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - D Stephen Charnock-Jones
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research, Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon C S Smith
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research, Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Nadeem L, Farine T, Dorogin A, Matysiak-Zablocki E, Shynlova O, Lye S. Differential expression of myometrial AP-1 proteins during gestation and labour. J Cell Mol Med 2017; 22:452-471. [PMID: 28945005 PMCID: PMC5742715 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm labour (PTL) is a leading cause of perinatal mortality and postnatal morbidity. Contractions of the uterine muscle (myometrium) that determine the onset of labour depend on the expression of contraction‐associated proteins (CAPs, i.e. connexin43) regulated by dimeric AP‐1 transcription factors. Here, we examined subcellular (by immunoblotting) and tissue expression (by immunohistochemistry) of myometrial AP‐1 proteins (cJUN, JUNB, JUND, cFOS, FOSB, FRA1, FRA2) throughout gestation and TL in different species (mouse, rat and human). To identify the critical AP‐1 members associated with preterm birth, we studied their expression in mouse model of ‘infectious’ (LPS‐induced) and ‘sterile’ (RU486‐induced) PTL. We found that (1) myometrial AP‐1 composition is preserved in vivo between different species (rodents and human) indicating that Fos/Jun heterodimer (i.e. FRA2/JUND) may be indispensable for labour initiation. (2) Our in vivo study using murine models of gestation shows that there is a similarity in the myometrial AP‐1 protein composition during TL and pathological PTL of different aetiology suggesting the involvement of similar molecular machinery in the induction of labour. (3) This study is first comprehensive protein analysis of seven AP‐1 members in human labouring versus non‐labouring myometrium, showing their cellular expression and tissue distribution in relation to labour status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Nadeem
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tali Farine
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anna Dorogin
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Oksana Shynlova
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen Lye
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Modulation of Progesterone Receptor Isoform Expression in Pregnant Human Myometrium. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:4589214. [PMID: 28540297 PMCID: PMC5433421 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4589214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background. Regulation of myometrial progesterone receptor (PR) expression is an unresolved issue central to understanding the mechanism of functional progesterone withdrawal and initiation of labor in women. Objectives. To determine whether pregnant human myometrium undergoes culture-induced changes in PR isoform expression ex situ and, further, to determine if conditions approaching the in vivo environment stabilise PR isoform expression in culture. Methods. Term nonlaboring human myometrial tissues were cultured under specific conditions: serum supplementation, steroids, stretch, cAMP, PMA, PGF2α , NF-κB inhibitors, or TSA. Following 48 h culture, PR-T, PR-A, and PR-B mRNA levels were determined using qRT-PCR. PR-A/PR-B ratios were calculated. Results. PR-T and PR-A expression and the PR-A/PR-B ratio significantly increased in culture. Steroids prevented the culture-induced increase in PR-T and PR-A expression. Stretch blocked the effects of steroids on PR-T and PR-A expression. PMA further increased the PR-A/PR-B ratio, while TSA blocked culture-induced increases of PR-A expression and the PR-A/PR-B ratio. Conclusion. Human myometrial tissue in culture undergoes changes in PR gene expression consistent with transition toward a laboring phenotype. TSA maintained the nonlaboring PR isoform expression pattern. This suggests that preserving histone and/or nonhistone protein acetylation is critical for maintaining the progesterone dependent quiescent phenotype of human myometrium in culture.
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Lai PF, Tribe RM, Johnson MR. Differential impact of acute and prolonged cAMP agonist exposure on protein kinase A activation and human myometrium contractile activity. J Physiol 2016; 594:6369-6393. [PMID: 27328735 DOI: 10.1113/jp272320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Over 15 million babies are born prematurely each year with approximately 1 million of these babies dying as a direct result of preterm delivery. β2 -Adrenoreceptor agonists that act via cAMP can reduce uterine contractions to delay preterm labour, but their ability to repress uterine contractions lasts ≤ 48 h and their use does not improve neonatal outcomes. Previous research has suggested that cAMP inhibits myometrial contractions via protein kinase A (PKA) activation, but this has yet to be demonstrated with PKA-specific agonists. We investigated the role of PKA in mediating cAMP-induced human myometrial relaxation, and the impact of prolonged cAMP elevation on myometrial contractility. Our findings suggest that PKA is not the sole mediator of cAMP-induced myometrial relaxation and that prolonged prophylactic elevation of cAMP alone is unlikely to prevent preterm labour (PTL). ABSTRACT Acute cAMP elevation inhibits myometrial contractility, but the mechanisms responsible are not fully elucidated and the long-term effects are uncertain. Both need to be defined in pregnant human myometrium before the therapeutic potential of cAMP-elevating agents in the prevention of preterm labour can be realised. In the present study, we tested the hypotheses that PKA activity is necessary for cAMP-induced myometrial relaxation, and that prolonged cAMP elevation can prevent myometrial contractions. Myometrial tissues obtained from term, pre-labour elective Caesarean sections were exposed to receptor-independent cAMP agonists to determine the relationship between myometrial contractility (spontaneous and oxytocin-induced), PKA activity, HSP20 phosphorylation and expression of contraction-associated and cAMP signalling proteins. Acute (1 h) application of cAMP agonists promoted myometrial relaxation, but this was weakly related to PKA activation. A PKA-specific activator, 6-Bnz-cAMP, increased PKA activity (6.8 ± 2.0 mean fold versus vehicle; P = 0.0313) without inducing myometrial relaxation. Spontaneous myometrial contractility declined after 24 h but was less marked when tissues were constantly exposed to cAMP agonists, especially for 8-bromo-cAMP (4.3 ± 1.2 mean fold versus vehicle; P = 0.0043); this was associated with changes to calponin, cofilin and HSP20 phosphorylated/total protein levels. Oxytocin-induced contractions were unaffected by pre-incubation with cAMP agonists despite treatments being able to enhance PKA activity and HSP20 phosphorylation. These data suggest that cAMP-induced myometrial relaxation is not solely dependent on PKA activity and the ability of cAMP agonists to repress myometrial contractility is lost with prolonged exposure. We conclude that cAMP agonist treatment alone may not prevent preterm labour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei F Lai
- Academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Imperial College London, London, SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Rachel M Tribe
- Division of Women's Health, Kings College London and Women's Health Academic Centre, Kings Health Partners, London, SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Mark R Johnson
- Academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Imperial College London, London, SW10 9NH, UK.
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Georgiou EX, Lei K, Lai PF, Yulia A, Herbert BR, Castellanos M, May ST, Sooranna SR, Johnson MR. The study of progesterone action in human myometrial explants. Mol Hum Reprod 2016; 22:877-89. [PMID: 27235325 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaw037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY HYPOTHESIS Myometrial explants represent a superior model compared with cell culture models for the study of human myometrial progesterone (P4) signalling in parturition. STUDY FINDING Gene expression analysis showed myometrial explants closely resemble the in vivo condition and the anti-inflammatory action of P4 is not lost with labour onset. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Circulating P4 levels decline before the onset of parturition in most animals, but not in humans. This has led to the suggestion that there is a functional withdrawal of P4 action at the myometrial level prior to labour onset. However, to date, no evidence of a loss of P4 function has been provided, with studies hampered by a lack of a physiologically relevant model. STUDY DESIGN, SAMPLES/MATERIALS, METHODS Myometrial biopsies obtained at Caesarean section were dissected into explants after a portion was immediately snap frozen (t = 0). Microarray analysis was used to compare gene expression of t = 0 with paired (i) explants, (ii) passage 4 myometrial cell cultures or (iii) the hTERT myometrial cell line. Western blotting and chemokine/cytokine assays were used to study P4 signalling in myometrial explants. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Gene expression comparison of t = 0 to the three models demonstrated that explants more closely resemble the in vivo status. At the protein level, explants maintain both P4 receptor (PR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) levels versus t = 0 whereas cells only maintain GR levels. Additionally, treatment with 1 µM P4 led to a reduction in interleukin-1 (IL-1) β-driven cyclooxygenase-2 in explants but not in cells. P4 signalling in explants was PR-mediated and associated with a repression of p65 and c-Jun phosphorylation. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory action of P4 was maintained after labour onset. LIMITATIONS/REASONS FOR CAUTION There is evidence of basal inflammation in the myometrial explant model. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Myometrial explants constitute a novel model to study P4 signalling in the myometrium and can be used to further elucidate the mechanisms of P4 action in human labour. LARGE SCALE DATA Data deposited at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?token=gvmpggkurbgxfqf&acc=GSE77830. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST This work was supported by grants from the Joint Research Committee of the Westminster Medical School Research Trust, Borne (No. 1067412-7; a sub-charity of the Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity) and the Imperial NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS or the Department of Health. The authors have no conflict of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- E X Georgiou
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - K Lei
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - P F Lai
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - A Yulia
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - B R Herbert
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - M Castellanos
- Nottingham Arabidopsis Stock Centre, Plant Science Building, School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - S T May
- Nottingham Arabidopsis Stock Centre, Plant Science Building, School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - S R Sooranna
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - M R Johnson
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
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10
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Chandran S, Cairns MT, O'Brien M, O'Connell E, Mashayekhi K, Smith TJ. Effects of combined progesterone and 17β-estradiol treatment on the transcriptome of cultured human myometrial smooth muscle cells. Physiol Genomics 2015; 48:50-61. [PMID: 26534934 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00021.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A transcriptomic analysis of cultured human uterine smooth muscle cells (hUtSMCs) was performed to examine gene expression profiles in smooth muscle in an environment containing the two major steroid hormones that regulate the human myometrium in physiological states associated with estrous, pregnancy, labor, and pathophysiological states such as leiomyoma and endometrial cancer. hUtSMCs were treated with progesterone (P4) and 17β-estradiol (E2) individually and in combination, in the presence and absence of RU486 (mifepristone). Transcription of many genes was modulated in the presence of P4 or E2 alone, but almost six times more genes were transcriptionally modulated in the presence of the P4/E2 hormone combination. In total 796 annotated genes were significantly differentially expressed in the presence of both P4 and E2 relative to their expression in untreated cells. Functional withdrawal of P4 by addition of RU486 effectively reversed almost all transcriptional changes caused by P4/E2 treatment. Gene ontology analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed a strong association between P4/E2 treatment and downregulated expression of genes involved in cell communication, signal transduction, channel activity, inflammatory response, and differentiation. Upregulated processes included cell survival, gene transcription, steroid hormone biosynthesis, muscle development, insulin receptor signaling, and cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreenath Chandran
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Michael T Cairns
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Margaret O'Brien
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Enda O'Connell
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Kaveh Mashayekhi
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Terry J Smith
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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11
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Moraitis AA, Cordeaux Y, Charnock-Jones DS, Smith GCS. The Effect of an Oxytocin Receptor Antagonist (Retosiban, GSK221149A) on the Response of Human Myometrial Explants to Prolonged Mechanical Stretch. Endocrinology 2015. [PMID: 26207346 DOI: 10.1210/en.2015-1378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Multiple pregnancy is a major cause of spontaneous preterm birth, which is related to uterine overdistention. The objective of this study was to determine whether an oxytocin receptor antagonist, retosiban (GSK221149A), inhibited the procontractile effect of stretch on human myometrium. Myometrial biopsies were obtained at term planned cesarean delivery (n = 12). Each biopsy specimen was dissected into 8 strips that were exposed in pairs to low or high stretch (0.6 or 2.4 g) in the presence of retosiban (1 μM) or vehicle (dimethylsulfoxide) for 24 hours. Subsequently, we analyzed the contractile responses to KCl and oxytocin in the absence of retosiban. We found that incubation under high stretch in vehicle alone increased the response of myometrial explants to both KCl (P = .007) and oxytocin (P = .01). However, there was no statistically significant effect of stretch when explants were incubated with retosiban (P = .3 and .2, respectively). Incubation with retosiban in low stretch had no statistically significant effect on the response to either KCl or oxytocin (P = .8 and >.9, respectively). Incubation with retosiban in high stretch resulted in a statistically significant reduction (median fold change, interquartile range, P) in the response to both KCl (0.74, 0.60-1.03, P = .046) and oxytocin (0.71, 0.53-0.91, P = .008). The greater the effect of stretch on explants from a given patient, the greater was the inhibitory effect of retosiban (r = -0.65, P = .02 for KCl and r= -0.73, P = .007 for oxytocin). These results suggest that retosiban prevented stretch-induced stimulation of human myometrial contractility. Retosiban treatment is a potential approach for preventing preterm birth in multiple pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros A Moraitis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, CB2 2SW, United Kingdom
| | - Yolande Cordeaux
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, CB2 2SW, United Kingdom
| | - D Stephen Charnock-Jones
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, CB2 2SW, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon C S Smith
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, CB2 2SW, United Kingdom
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12
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Eidem HR, Ackerman WE, McGary KL, Abbot P, Rokas A. Gestational tissue transcriptomics in term and preterm human pregnancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Med Genomics 2015; 8:27. [PMID: 26044726 PMCID: PMC4456776 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-015-0099-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth (PTB), or birth before 37 weeks of gestation, is the leading cause of newborn death worldwide. PTB is a critical area of scientific study not only due to its worldwide toll on human lives and economies, but also due to our limited understanding of its pathogenesis and, therefore, its prevention. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes the landscape of PTB transcriptomics research to further our understanding of the genes and pathways involved in PTB subtypes. METHODS We evaluated published genome-wide pregnancy studies across gestational tissues and pathologies, including those that focus on PTB, by performing a targeted PubMed MeSH search and systematically reviewing all relevant studies. RESULTS Our search yielded 2,361 studies on gestational tissues including placenta, decidua, myometrium, maternal blood, cervix, fetal membranes (chorion and amnion), umbilical cord, fetal blood, and basal plate. Selecting only those original research studies that measured transcription on a genome-wide scale and reported lists of expressed genetic elements identified 93 gene expression, 21 microRNA, and 20 methylation studies. Although 30 % of all PTB cases are due to medical indications, 76 % of the preterm studies focused on them. In contrast, only 18 % of the preterm studies focused on spontaneous onset of labor, which is responsible for 45 % of all PTB cases. Furthermore, only 23 of the 10,993 unique genetic elements reported to be transcriptionally active were recovered 10 or more times in these 134 studies. Meta-analysis of the 93 gene expression studies across 9 distinct gestational tissues and 29 clinical phenotypes showed limited overlap of genes identified as differentially expressed across studies. CONCLUSIONS Overall, profiles of differentially expressed genes were highly heterogeneous both between as well as within clinical subtypes and tissues as well as between studies of the same clinical subtype and tissue. These results suggest that large gaps still exist in the transcriptomic study of specific clinical subtypes as well in the generation of the transcriptional profile of well-studied clinical subtypes; understanding the complex landscape of prematurity will require large-scale, systematic genome-wide analyses of human gestational tissues on both understudied and well-studied subtypes alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley R Eidem
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - William E Ackerman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Kriston L McGary
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - Patrick Abbot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
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13
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Simmen RCM, Heard ME, Simmen AM, Montales MTM, Marji M, Scanlon S, Pabona JMP. The Krüppel-like factors in female reproductive system pathologies. J Mol Endocrinol 2015; 54:R89-R101. [PMID: 25654975 PMCID: PMC4369192 DOI: 10.1530/jme-14-0310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Female reproductive tract pathologies arise largely from dysregulation of estrogen and progesterone receptor signaling, leading to aberrant cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. The signaling pathways orchestrated by these nuclear receptors are complex, require the participation of many nuclear proteins serving as key binding partners or targets, and involve a range of paracrine and autocrine regulatory circuits. The members of the Krüppel-like factor (KLF) family of transcription factors are ubiquitously expressed in reproductive tissues and have been increasingly implicated as critical co-regulators and integrators of steroid hormone actions. Herein, we explore the involvement of KLF family members in uterine pathology, describe their currently known molecular mechanisms, and discuss their potential as targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalia C M Simmen
- Department of Physiology and BiophysicsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USADepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USADepartment of Internal MedicineHarlem Hospital Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10037, USA
| | - Melissa E Heard
- Department of Physiology and BiophysicsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USADepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USADepartment of Internal MedicineHarlem Hospital Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10037, USA
| | - Angela M Simmen
- Department of Physiology and BiophysicsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USADepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USADepartment of Internal MedicineHarlem Hospital Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10037, USA
| | - Maria Theresa M Montales
- Department of Physiology and BiophysicsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USADepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USADepartment of Internal MedicineHarlem Hospital Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10037, USA
| | - Meera Marji
- Department of Physiology and BiophysicsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USADepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USADepartment of Internal MedicineHarlem Hospital Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10037, USA
| | - Samantha Scanlon
- Department of Physiology and BiophysicsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USADepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USADepartment of Internal MedicineHarlem Hospital Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10037, USA
| | - John Mark P Pabona
- Department of Physiology and BiophysicsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USADepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USADepartment of Internal MedicineHarlem Hospital Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10037, USA
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14
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Pabona JMP, Zhang D, Ginsburg DS, Simmen FA, Simmen RCM. Prolonged pregnancy in women is associated with attenuated myometrial expression of progesterone receptor co-regulator Krüppel-like Factor 9. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015; 100:166-74. [PMID: 25313913 PMCID: PMC4283014 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2014-2846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Late-term pregnancy may lead to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Mice null for the progesterone receptor co-regulator Krüppel-like Factor 9 (KLF9) exhibit delayed parturition and increased incidence of neonatal deaths. OBJECTIVE Our aim is to evaluate the contribution of myometrial KLF9 to human parturition. DESIGN Myometrial biopsies were obtained from women with term (>37 to ≤41 wk) and late-term (>41 wk) pregnancies during cesarean delivery and assessed for gene and protein expression. Human myometrial cells transfected with nontargeting or KLF9 small interfering RNAs (siRNA) were treated with the progesterone antagonist RU486 and analyzed for pro-inflammatory chemokine/cytokine gene expression. SETTING The study took place in a University-affiliated tertiary care hospital and University research laboratory. PATIENTS Term patients (n = 8) were in spontaneous active labor whereas late-term patients (n = 5) were either in or were induced to active labor, prior to elective cesarean delivery. OUTCOME MEASURES Steroid hormone receptor, contractility, and inflammation-associated gene expression in myometrial biopsies and in siKLF9-transfected, RU486-treated human myometrial cells was associated with KLF9 expression levels. RESULTS Myometrium from women with late-term pregnancy showed lower KLF9, total PGR, and PGR-A/PGR-B isoform expression. Transcript levels of select chemokines/cytokines were up- (CSF3, IL1, IL12A, TGFB2) and down- (CCL3, CCL5, CXCL1, CXCL5, IL15) regulated in late-term relative to term myometrium. Knock-down of KLF9 expression in RU486-treated human myometrial cells modified the expression of PGR and labor-associated cytokines, relative to control siRNA-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS Myometrial KLF9 may contribute to the onset of human parturition through its regulation of PGR expression and inflammatory signaling networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Mark P Pabona
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics (J.M.P.P., F.A.S., R.C.M.S.), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (D.Z., D.S.G.), Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, Pennsylvania 19013
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15
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Murphy K, Irvin SC, Herold BC. Research gaps in defining the biological link between HIV risk and hormonal contraception. Am J Reprod Immunol 2014; 72:228-35. [PMID: 24548147 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemiologic data suggest an association between depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), a progesterone-based hormonal contraceptive, and increased risk of HIV acquisition and transmission. DMPA is highly effective and is among the most commonly used form of hormonal contraception in areas of high HIV prevalence. Thus, defining the biological mechanisms that contribute to the potential negative synergy between DMPA and HIV is key and may facilitate the identification of alternative contraceptive strategies. Proposed mechanisms include thinning or disruption of the cervicovaginal epithelial barrier, induction of mucosal inflammation, interference with innate and adaptive soluble and cellular immune responses, and/or alterations in the vaginal microbiome. DMPA may also indirectly increase the risk of HIV by promoting genital herpes or other sexually transmitted infections. However, there is a paucity of rigorous in vitro, animal model and clinical data to support these potential mechanisms highlighting the need for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry Murphy
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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16
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Tattersall M, Cordeaux Y, Charnock-Jones DS, Smith GCS. Expression of gastrin-releasing peptide is increased by prolonged stretch of human myometrium, and antagonists of its receptor inhibit contractility. J Physiol 2012; 590:2081-93. [PMID: 22411014 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.228239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased uterine stretch appears to increase the risk of preterm labour, but the mechanism is unknown. The aim of this study was to identify factors that mediate the effect of stretch on human myometrium.Myometrial explants, prepared from biopsies obtained at elective caesarean delivery, were either studied acutely, or were maintained in prolonged culture (up to 65 h) under tension with either a 0.6 g or a 2.4 g mass, and compared using in vitro contractility, whole genome array, and qRT-PCR. Tissue held at tonic stretch with the 2.4 g mass for either 24 or 65 h showed increased potassium chloride (KCl)-induced and oxytocin-induced contractility compared with that held with the 0.6 g mass. Gene array identified 62 differentially expressed transcripts after 65 h exposure to increased stretch. Two probes for gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), a known stimulatory agonist of smooth muscle, were among the top five up-regulated by stretch (3.4-fold and 2.0-fold). Up-regulation of GRP mRNA by stretch was confirmed in a separate series of 10 samples using quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) (2.8-fold, P =0.01). GRP stimulated contractions acutely when added to freshly obtained myometrial strips in 2 out of 9 cases, but Western blot demonstrated expression of the GRP receptor in 9 out of a further 9 cases. Prolonged incubation of stretched explants in the GRP antagonists PD-176252 or RC-3095 (65 and 24 h, respectively) significantly reduced KCl- and oxytocin-induced contractility.Tonic stretch of human myometrium increases contractility and stimulates the expression of a known smooth muscle stimulatory agonist, GRP. Incubation of myometrium with GRP receptor antagonists attenuates the effect of stretch. GRP may be a target for novel therapies to reduce the risk of preterm birth in multiple pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Tattersall
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, The Rosie Hospital, Cambridge, UK
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17
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Vrachnis N, Malamas FM, Sifakis S, Tsikouras P, Iliodromiti Z. Immune aspects and myometrial actions of progesterone and CRH in labor. Clin Dev Immunol 2011; 2012:937618. [PMID: 22028729 PMCID: PMC3199111 DOI: 10.1155/2012/937618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2011] [Accepted: 08/17/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Progesterone and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) have a critical role in pregnancy and labor, as changes related to these hormones are crucial for the transition from myometrial quiescence to contractility. The mechanisms related to their effect differ between humans and other species, thus, despite extensive research, many questions remain to be answered regarding their mediation in human labor. Immune responses to progesterone and CRH are important for labor. Progesterone acts as an immunomodulator which controls many immune actions during pregnancy, and its withdrawal releases the inhibitory action on inflammatory pathways. In humans, a "functional" progesterone withdrawal occurs with onset of labor through changes in progesterone metabolism, progesterone receptors, and other molecules that either facilitate or antagonize progesterone function. Placental CRH acts on the fetal pituitary-adrenal axis to stimulate adrenal production of androgens and cortisol and also acts directly on myometrial cells via its receptors. CRH also affects inflammatory signals and vice versa. Interactions between progesterone and CRH additionally occur during labor. We describe the role of these two hormones in human myometrium and their interactions with the immune system during labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Vrachnis
- 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens Medical School, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece.
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