title: Changes of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase level during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prostaglandin D (PGD), synthesized by lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS), has marked effects on a number of biological processes, including the prevention of platelet aggregation and the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. The aim of the study presented here was to examine the significance of L-PGDS in human pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the concentration of plasma L-PGDS in pregnant and non-pregnant women, and the concentration of L-PGDS in the umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid and urine of newborns by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. To determine the localization of L-PGDS, we performed immunohistochemical analysis. To evaluate the usefulness of diagnosis of rupture of membranes (ROM), we determined the concentration of L-PGDS in cervicovaginal secretions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnant women and non-pregnant women had similar L-PGDS concentrations (0.57 +/- 0.13 microg/mL vs 0.53 +/- 0.07 microg/mL). Umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid and newborn urine contained higher L-PGDS concentrations (1.87 +/- 0.73 microg/mL, 2.62 +/- 0.86 microg/mL, 6.31 +/- 4.62 microg/mL, respectively) than maternal blood. The concentration of L-PGDS in amniotic fluid from 19 weeks onward was significantly greater than that at 15-18 weeks (3.201 +/- 0.384 microg/mL, n = 6 vs 1.735 +/- 0.477 microg/mL, n = 4; P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed that the amniotic cells of the placenta expressed L-PGDS. The sources of L-PGDS in amniotic fluid are fetus urine and amniotic cells. The concentration of L-PGDS in cervicovaginal secretions with rupture of membrane (ROM) were significantly higher than those without ROM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measurement of L-PGDS in cervicovaginal fluid was useful in the detection of ROM during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiki
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimoya
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokugawa
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Masayasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Urade
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D012634:Bodily Secretions / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D054834:Lipocalins; D008875:Middle Aged; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054834:Lipocalins; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C022466:prostaglandin R2 D-isomerase