title: Effects of adrenomedullin on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in oviducts from women with tubal ectopic pregnancy: an in-vitro experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The occurrence of tubal ectopic pregnancy (tEP) is related to the inflammation of the oviduct. Recently, Adrenomedullin (ADM) was found highly expression in human oviduct. The current study is to investigate whether ADM have a modulatory action on inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in oviductal tissue from women with tubal ectopic pregnancy (tEP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Oviductal isthmus samples were collected from women with tEP undergoing salpingectomy, and women undergoing hysterectomy for benign gynaecological conditions. The mRNA and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines were assayed by PCR (n = 6 for tEP, n = 5 for controls) and protein microarray methods (n = 5 for both tEP and controls) respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some of the inflammatory cytokines/chemokines were upregulated by ADM in oviducts from tEP patients at both mRNA and protein levels. Incubation of oviduct from tEP patients with ADM for 24 h down-regulated some of these cytokines/chemokines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest an additional mechanism whereby ADM insufficiency may increase the susceptibility to tEP through diminished anti-inflammatory activity. The actual impact of the relationship between ADM and inflammatory process on tubal implantation needs further exploration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. raymondli@hku.hk.|Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. raymondli@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Hang Wun Raymond
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. lsb776@gmail.com.|School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. lsb776@gmail.com.|Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. lsb776@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Su-Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. pchiucn@hku.hk.|Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. pchiucn@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Philip Chi Ngong
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. wsbyeung@hku.hk.|Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. wsbyeung@hku.hk.
authors.forename: William Shu Biu
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. nghye@hku.hk.|Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. nghye@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Ernest Hung Yu
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. anycheun@pathology.hku.hk.
authors.forename: Annie Nga Yin
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. ftang@hku.hk.|Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. ftang@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Fai
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. owaisum@hku.hk.|School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. owaisum@hku.hk.|Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. owaisum@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Wai Sum
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: O
mesh_terms: D053607:Adrenomedullin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D053607:Adrenomedullin