Changes of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in human myometrium before and during term labor.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the changes of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in human term myometrium before and during term labor.


METHODS
Myometrium was obtained from women undergoing cesarean delivery at term before (n=16) and after labor (n=12). Immunostaining of NF-kappaB subunits (p65/p50) and Western blot analysis of NF-kappaB subunits, MMP-9 and COX-2 proteins were compared. Human term myocyte cultures were stimulated with IL-1beta. Activation of NF-kappaB was assessed by evaluating changes in the inhibitory protein IkappaB; regulation of COX-2 and MMP-9 levels was studied using Western blot analysis and gelatin zymography.


RESULTS
In contrast to a significant increase in the level of COX-2 and MMP-9 proteins, p65 and p50 decreased significantly in the after-labor group compared to the before-labor group. After treatment with IL-1beta, IkappaB was degraded by almost 90% within 5 min and became undetectable by 15 min. IL-1beta stimulation increased the levels of COX-2 protein and the gelatinolytic activities of MMP-9, both of which were inhibited by NF-kappaB inhibitors.


CONCLUSIONS
Human term labor is associated with changes in NF-kappaB and increased expression of COX-2 and MMP-9 in the myometrium. NF-kappaB pathway activation and subsequent increments of COX-2 and MMP-9 were observed in human term myocyte cultures.
Choi
Suk Joo
SJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-Dong, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 135-710, Republic of Korea.
Oh
Soo young
Sy
Kim
Jong Hwa
JH
Roh
Cheong Rae
CR
D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D007745:Labor Onset / Q000502:physiology*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000502:physiology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D036801:Parturition / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy
D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9