Plasma membrane receptor mediated MAPK signaling pathways are activated in human uterine cervix at parturition

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cervical ripening resembles an inflammatory reaction. Estrogens induce leukocyte migration into tissue and factors promoting cervical remodeling and labor, although the mechanisms are only partially known. The aim of this study was t...

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Main Authors: Wang Hong, Stjernholm Ylva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2007-01-01
Series:Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Online Access:http://www.rbej.com/content/5/1/3
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spelling doaj-a5c785e0853746babe481fb9dedb58e02020-11-24T22:17:23ZengBMCReproductive Biology and Endocrinology1477-78272007-01-0151310.1186/1477-7827-5-3Plasma membrane receptor mediated MAPK signaling pathways are activated in human uterine cervix at parturitionWang HongStjernholm Ylva<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cervical ripening resembles an inflammatory reaction. Estrogens induce leukocyte migration into tissue and factors promoting cervical remodeling and labor, although the mechanisms are only partially known. The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma membrane receptor mediated pathways, known to be activated by estrogens and proinflammatory compounds, are involved in cervical ripening before labor.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The expression and distribution of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK), which transduce extracellular signals into intracellular responses through phosphorylation, and their intracellular targets transcription factors c-Jun and c-Fos proteins (AP-1) were analysed in cervical biopsies from term pregnant women (TP), immediately after parturition (PP), and from non-pregnant women (NP). Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR techniques were used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cell-specific alterations in the immunostaining pattern for MAPK were observed. The expressions of activated, phosphorylated MAPK forms pERK1/2, pJNK and p38MAPK were significantly increased in cervical stroma until TP and pERK1/2 expression was significantly enhanced in PP group. c-Jun was significantly increased in cervical stroma and smooth muscle in TP as compared to NP group. c-Fos was significantly increased in stroma, squamous epithelium and glandular epithelium in PP as compared to TP group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report, for the first time, cell-specific activation of pMAPKs and their targets transcription factors c-Fos and c-Jun (AP-1) proteins in human uterine cervix until term pregnancy, and immediately after parturition. These results suggest a role for MAPK activation in cervical ripening before labor.</p> http://www.rbej.com/content/5/1/3
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Wang Hong
Stjernholm Ylva
spellingShingle Wang Hong
Stjernholm Ylva
Plasma membrane receptor mediated MAPK signaling pathways are activated in human uterine cervix at parturition
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
author_facet Wang Hong
Stjernholm Ylva
author_sort Wang Hong
title Plasma membrane receptor mediated MAPK signaling pathways are activated in human uterine cervix at parturition
title_short Plasma membrane receptor mediated MAPK signaling pathways are activated in human uterine cervix at parturition
title_full Plasma membrane receptor mediated MAPK signaling pathways are activated in human uterine cervix at parturition
title_fullStr Plasma membrane receptor mediated MAPK signaling pathways are activated in human uterine cervix at parturition
title_full_unstemmed Plasma membrane receptor mediated MAPK signaling pathways are activated in human uterine cervix at parturition
title_sort plasma membrane receptor mediated mapk signaling pathways are activated in human uterine cervix at parturition
publisher BMC
series Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
issn 1477-7827
publishDate 2007-01-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cervical ripening resembles an inflammatory reaction. Estrogens induce leukocyte migration into tissue and factors promoting cervical remodeling and labor, although the mechanisms are only partially known. The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma membrane receptor mediated pathways, known to be activated by estrogens and proinflammatory compounds, are involved in cervical ripening before labor.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The expression and distribution of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK), which transduce extracellular signals into intracellular responses through phosphorylation, and their intracellular targets transcription factors c-Jun and c-Fos proteins (AP-1) were analysed in cervical biopsies from term pregnant women (TP), immediately after parturition (PP), and from non-pregnant women (NP). Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR techniques were used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cell-specific alterations in the immunostaining pattern for MAPK were observed. The expressions of activated, phosphorylated MAPK forms pERK1/2, pJNK and p38MAPK were significantly increased in cervical stroma until TP and pERK1/2 expression was significantly enhanced in PP group. c-Jun was significantly increased in cervical stroma and smooth muscle in TP as compared to NP group. c-Fos was significantly increased in stroma, squamous epithelium and glandular epithelium in PP as compared to TP group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report, for the first time, cell-specific activation of pMAPKs and their targets transcription factors c-Fos and c-Jun (AP-1) proteins in human uterine cervix until term pregnancy, and immediately after parturition. These results suggest a role for MAPK activation in cervical ripening before labor.</p>
url http://www.rbej.com/content/5/1/3
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AT stjernholmylva plasmamembranereceptormediatedmapksignalingpathwaysareactivatedinhumanuterinecervixatparturition
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