title: 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase and cyclooxygenase 2 messenger ribonucleic acid expression and immunohistochemical localization in human cervical tissue during term and preterm labor.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Hospital and Karolinska Institute, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. susanne.abelin@kbh.ki.se
authors.forename: Susanne Abelin
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Törnblom
authors.forename: Falguni A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Byström
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giannoulias
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malmström
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sennström
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lye
authors.forename: John R G
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Challis
authors.forename: Gunvor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ekman
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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