Abstract
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is known to have important roles in labor, but the detailed mechanism underlying the spontaneous human labor remains unknown. Here, we examined the involvement of prostaglandin biosynthetic enzymes and transporter in the accumulation of PGE2 in amniotic fluid in human labor. PGE2 and its metabolites were abundant in amniotic fluid in deliveries at term in labor (TLB), but not at term not in labor (TNL). In fetal-membrane Transwell assays, levels of PGE2 production in both maternal and fetal compartments were significantly higher in the TLB group than the TNL group. In fetal-membrane, the mRNA level of PTGES3, which encodes cytosolic prostaglandin E synthase (cPGES), was significantly higher in TLB than in TNL, but the mRNA levels of the other PGE2-synthase genes were not affected by labor. Moreover, the mRNA level of PTGS2, which encodes cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the amnion was significantly higher in TLB than in TNL. Western blot analyses revealed that the levels of COX-1 and COX-2 were comparable between the two groups, however, the level of cPGES was relatively higher in TLB than in TNL. COXs, cPGES, and prostaglandin transporter (SLCO2A1) proteins were all expressed in both chorionic trophoblasts and amniotic epithelium. These findings suggest that COXs, cPGES and SLCO2A1 contribute to PGE2 production from fetal-membrane in labor.
Highlights
Levels of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and its metabolites in amniotic fluid from women delivering at term not in labor (TNL) or term in labor (TLB) were measured by LC-MS/MS
Relative levels of mRNAs encoding genes involved in PGE2 biosynthesis in fetal-membrane of patients with term not in labor (TNL) or term in labor (TLB) deliveries were measured by RTqPCR. (A) PLA2G4A, (B) PTGS1, (C) PTGS2, (D) PTGES1, (E) PTGES2, (F) PTGES3
PGE2 is known to play an important role in human labor
Summary
Levels of PGE2 and its metabolites in amniotic fluid from women delivering at TNL or TLB were measured by LC-MS/MS. PGE2 concentrations in both maternal (decidual) and fetal (amniotic) compartments in the TLB group were rapidly increased compared to the TNL group (Fig 3B and 3C).
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