title: Temporal expression of antioxidants in human cervicovaginal fluid associated with spontaneous labor.
abstract: Proteomic analysis of human cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) by 2D electrophoresis revealed significant differential expression of several major antioxidant enzymes during late pregnancy and term labor. Temporal quantitative changes of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn SOD) and thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) with impending term labor were investigated, and the potential of these biomarkers as individual and multiple predictors of labor was determined. The TAC of CVF (n = 193) was 8-fold significantly lower in labor, and approximately 2-fold significantly lower at 0-7, 8-14, 15-21, and 22-28 days, compared with >or=29 days prior to labor onset (p < 0.001). The expression of Cu,Zn SOD (n = 170) was 1.5- to 1.9-fold significantly decreased in labor (p < 0.001). Trx-1 (n = 163) was 2.8- to 5.1-fold significantly lower in labor (p = 0.002). The combination of TAC and Cu,Zn SOD produced the best predictive efficacy with 74% sensitivity and 95% specificity to predict term labor within 3 days of onset. These findings suggest that labor is associated with increased oxidative stress well before its onset and is reflected in the human CVF. The biomarkers identified in this study could serve as predictors of labor and offer potential strategies for novel therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Yujing Jan
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: Megan Katherine Waterhouse
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Di Quinzio
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Permezel
authors.forename: Gregory Edward
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Harry Michael
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Georgiou
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007745:Labor Onset / Q000378:metabolism; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011247:Pregnancy; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013879:Thioredoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013879:Thioredoxins; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase