title: The role of the ERK1/2 signalling pathway in the pathogenesis of female stress urinary incontinence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK)1/2 and phosphorylated (p)-ERK1/2 in the pathogenesis of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Anterior vaginal wall tissue was collected from women with SUI and control subjects. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed for p-ERK1/2. Primary vaginal fibroblast cultures were incubated in the presence or absence of PD98059 (an inhibitor of ERK kinase) and levels of collagen I and III mRNA and protein were examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of p-ERK1/2 were significantly lower in vaginal wall tissue from patients with SUI (n = 10) compared with controls (n = 10). PD98059 treatment significantly reduced levels of collagen I and III mRNA and protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female SUI is associated with reduced levels of p-ERK1/2 compared with controls, and inhibition of the ERK1/2 signalling pathway inhibits collagen type I and III synthesis in vaginal wall fibroblasts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hangmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Zhenwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008875:Middle Aged; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D005419:Flavonoids; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C535150:MAPK1 protein, human; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
keywords: ERK1/2; Stress urinary incontinence; anterior vaginal wall; collagen; extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2; fibroblasts