15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase and cyclooxygenase 2 messenger ribonucleic acid expression and immunohistochemical localization in human cervical tissue during term and preterm labor

Summary, in English

Here we have examined the enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-OH PGDH) in pregnant human cervix. In biopsies taken transvaginally after preterm and term elective cesarean sections and vaginal deliveries, the levels of mRNA coding for COX-2 and 15-OH PGDH were assessed by Northern blotting. The cellular localization of the COX-2 and 15-OH PGDH proteins was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. COX-2 and 15-OH PGDH mRNAs were expressed at detectable levels in the cervical biopsies from all four groups of subjects. At cesarean sections ( unripe cervix), the level of 15-OH PGDH mRNA was significantly higher than the level in the ripe cervix at the time of partus, irrespective of the gestational length. In contrast, the level of COX-2 mRNA was similar in all subjects. Immunoreactivity of COX-2 and 15-OH PGDH was expressed by activated fibroblasts. The present investigation documents the expression and cellular localization of COX-2 and 15-OH PGDH in the preterm and term pregnant human cervix. This observation indicates that both preterm and term cervical ripening is associated with decreased degradation of prostaglandins.

• Author: SA Tornblom; FA Patel; B Bystrom; D Giannoulis; Anders Malmström; M Sennstrom; SJ Lye; JRG Challis; G Ekman
• Department/s: Matrix Biology
• Publishing year: 2004
• Language: English
• Pages: 2909-2915
• Publication/Series: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Volume: 89
• Issue: 6
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.2003-031149
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Topic: Cell and Molecular Biology
• Status: Published
• Research group: Matrix Biology
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1945-7197