scholarly journals Cortisol Regeneration in the Fetal Membranes, A Coincidental or Requisite Event in Human Parturition?

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang-Sheng Wang ◽  
Chun-Ming Guo ◽  
Kang Sun
Endocrinology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 687-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony H. Taylor ◽  
Penny C. McParland ◽  
David J. Taylor ◽  
Stephen C. Bell

The mechanism that initiates human parturition has been proposed to be functional progesterone withdrawal whereby the 116-kDa B isoform of the progesterone receptor (PR-B) switches in favor of the 94-kDa A isoform (PR-A) in reproductive tissues. Recently other PR isoforms, PR-S, PR-C, and PR-M generated from the same gene have been identified and partially characterized. Using immunohistochemical, Western blotting, and RT-PCR techniques, evidence is provided that the major PR isoform present in human term fetal membranes (amnion and chorion) and syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta is neither of the classical nuclear PR-B or PR-A isoforms but is the N terminally truncated 60-kDa PR-C isoform. Evidence is also provided that the PR-C isoform resides in the cytoplasm of the expressing cell types. Data are also presented to show that PR-B, PR-A, and PR-S isoforms are essentially absent from the amnion and chorion, whereas PR isoforms A, B, C, and S are all present in the decidua, with PR-A being the major isoform. The syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta contains the cytoplasmic PR-C isoform but not PR-A, PR-B, or PR-S. The major PR isoform in the amnion, chorion, and placenta is PR-C, suggesting that the cytoplasmic PR-C isoform has a specific role in extraembryonic tissues and may be involved in the regulation of human parturition.


Endocrinology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (8) ◽  
pp. 3017-3024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunming Guo ◽  
Wangsheng Wang ◽  
Chao Liu ◽  
Leslie Myatt ◽  
Kang Sun

Abundant evidence indicates a pivotal role of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) in human parturition. Both the fetal and maternal sides of the fetal membranes synthesize PGF2α. In addition to the synthesis of PGF2α from PGH2 by PGF synthase (PGFS), PGF2α can also be converted from PGE2 by carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1). Here, we showed that there was concurrent increased production of cortisol and PGF2α in association with the elevation of CBR1 in human amnion obtained at term with labor versus term without labor. In cultured primary human amnion fibroblasts, cortisol (0.01–1μM) increased PGF2α production in a concentration-dependent manner, in parallel with elevation of CBR1 levels. Either siRNA-mediated knockdown of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression or GR antagonist RU486 attenuated the induction of CBR1 by cortisol. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) showed an increased enrichment of both GR and RNA polymerase II to CBR1 promoter. Knockdown of CBR1 expression with siRNA or inhibition of CBR1 activity with rutin decreased both basal and cortisol-stimulated PGF2α production in human amnion fibroblasts. In conclusion, CBR1 may play a critical role in PGF2α synthesis in human amnion fibroblasts, and cortisol promotes the conversion of PGE2 into PGF2α via GR-mediated induction of CBR1 in human amnion fibroblasts. This stimulatory effect of cortisol on CBR1 expression may partly explain the concurrent increases of cortisol and PGF2α in human amnion tissue with labor, and these findings may account for the increased production of PGF2α in the fetal membranes prior to the onset of labor.


2002 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 445-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Young ◽  
Andrew J. Thomson ◽  
MarieAnne Ledingham ◽  
Fiona Jordan ◽  
Ian A. Greer ◽  
...  

2000 ◽  
Vol 183 (4) ◽  
pp. 904-910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Percy Pacora ◽  
Eli Maymon ◽  
Maria-Teresa Gervasi ◽  
Ricardo Gomez ◽  
Samuel S. Edwin ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahalia Chai ◽  
Susan P. Walker ◽  
Clyde Riley ◽  
Gregory E. Rice ◽  
Michael Permezel ◽  
...  

Background. Apoptosis and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) are capable of hydrolysing components of the extracellular matrix and weakening the fetal membranes which leads to eventual rupture, a key process of human parturition. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supracervical apposition and spontaneous labour on apoptosis and MMP-9 in human fetal membranes at term.Methods. Fetal membranes were obtained from term non-labouring supracervical site (SCS) and compared to (i) a paired distal site (DS) or (ii) site of rupture (SOR) after spontaneous labour onset.Results. The expression of the proapoptotic markers Bax, Smac, Fas, FasL, caspase-3, and PARP, was significantly higher in the non-labouring SCS chorion compared to paired DS. Bax, Smac, FasL, caspase-3, and PARP staining was higher in the non-labouring SCS fetal membranes than that in the post-labour SOR. MMP-9 expression and activity were higher in the post-labour SOR fetal membranes compared to non-labouring SCS fetal membranes.Conclusion. Components of the apoptotic signalling pathways and MMP-9 may play a role in rupture and labour. Non-labouring SCS fetal membranes display altered morphology and altered apoptotic biochemical characteristics in preparation for labour, while the laboured SOR displays unique MMP characteristics.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document