Decidual activation: abundance and localization of prostaglandin F2alpha receptor (FP) mRNA and protein and uterine activation proteins in human decidua at preterm birth and term birth.
OBJECTIVE
To study how the decidua contributes to parturition, we examined prostaglandin F(2alpha) concentrations as well as prostaglandin 15-hydroxy dehydrogenase, prostaglandin F(2alpha) receptor, matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9, oxytocin receptor, prostaglandin-H synthase-2, and the prostaglandin E(2) receptor expression in human decidua.


METHODS
Decidual samples were isolated from placentas collected from patients at preterm not in labor (PTNIL), preterm labor (PTL), term not in labor (TNIL), and term labor (TL). For immunohistochemistry, fresh membranes which included chorion, amnion and decidua from term patients were collected.


RESULTS
Prostaglandin F(2alpha) receptor mRNA was low in all preterm patients and then significantly increased towards term (p=0.049). Prostaglandin F(2alpha) receptor protein was identified in the amnion epithelium and mesoderm, chorion trophoblasts and decidua by immunohistochemistry, and levels were highest at TNIL (p=0.007) as measured by western blot. Prostaglandin F(2alpha) levels were higher at PTNIL than TNIL. Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 protein and pro-enzyme activities were higher at TL than TNIL. There were no significant changes among the groups for any of the other factors measured.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the induction of Prostaglandin F(2alpha) receptor at term may facilitate the decidua contribution to parturition, and its regulation and role should be examined further.
Makino
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. mlappas@unimelb.edu.au <mlappas@unimelb.edu.au>
Zaragoza
D B
DB
Mitchell
B F
BF
Yonemoto
H
H
Olson
D M
DM
D017931:DNA Primers; D003656:Decidua / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin; C034671:prostaglandin F2alpha receptor