15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase and cyclooxygenase 2 messenger ribonucleic acid expression and immunohistochemical localization in human cervical tissue during term and preterm labor.
Here we have examined the enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-OH PGDH) in pregnant human cervix. In biopsies taken transvaginally after preterm and term elective cesarean sections and vaginal deliveries, the levels of mRNA coding for COX-2 and 15-OH PGDH were assessed by Northern blotting. The cellular localization of the COX-2 and 15-OH PGDH proteins was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. COX-2 and 15-OH PGDH mRNAs were expressed at detectable levels in the cervical biopsies from all four groups of subjects. At cesarean sections (unripe cervix), the level of 15-OH PGDH mRNA was significantly higher than the level in the ripe cervix at the time of partus, irrespective of the gestational length. In contrast, the level of COX-2 mRNA was similar in all subjects. Immunoreactivity of COX-2 and 15-OH PGDH was expressed by activated fibroblasts. The present investigation documents the expression and cellular localization of COX-2 and 15-OH PGDH in the preterm and term pregnant human cervix. This observation indicates that both preterm and term cervical ripening is associated with decreased degradation of prostaglandins.
Törnblom
Susanne Abelin
SA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Hospital and Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. susanne.abelin@kbh.ki.se
Patel
Falguni A
FA
Byström
Birgitta
B
Giannoulias
Diana
D
Malmström
Anders
A
Sennström
Maria
M
Lye
Stephen J
SJ
Challis
John R G
JR
Ekman
Gunvor
G
D000328:Adult; D020070:Cervical Ripening / Q000502:physiology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000201:enzymology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006911:Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006911:Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases; C035859:15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases