Expression and function of protease-activated receptor 4 in human myometrium - 22/08/11
Reprint requests: John J. Morrison MD MRCOG FRCPI BSc DCH, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National University of Ireland, Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland.Résumé |
Objective |
Little is known about the presence or functional effects of protease-activated receptor subtypes in human uterine tissues. The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to investigate for protease-activated receptor-4 messenger RNA and protein expression in human myometrium, (2) to evaluate the effects of a specific protease-activated receptor-4 activating peptide (AYPGKF-NH2) on spontaneous human myometrial contractility in vitro, and (3) to examine the effects of a protease-activated receptor-4 antagonist (tcYPGKF-NH2) on thrombin-mediated uterine contractility.
Study design |
Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Immunofluorescence studies were used to investigate for protease-activated receptor-4 messenger RNA and protein expression, respectively. Isometric tension recordings were used to examine the functional effects on contractility.
Results |
Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated messenger RNA expression for protease-activated receptor-4 in pregnant and non-pregnant myometrium. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy demonstrated the presence of protease-activated receptor-4 protein in myometrial cells. With the use of isometric recordings, protease-activated receptor 4-activating peptide elicited a stimulatory effect on spontaneous human pregnant myometrial contractility (13.1% ± 2.7 SEM; n = 6; P < .05). Protease-activated receptor-4 antagonism alone elicited a significant uterorelaxant effect (14.7% ± 2.4; n = 6; P < .05). The observed thrombin-mediated uterotonic effect was similar in the absence (46.1% ± 12.8; n = 6) and presence (48.8% ± 12.6; n = 6) of the protease-activated receptor-4 antagonist (P = .91).
Conclusions |
This study outlines protease-activated receptor-4 messenger RNA and protein expression in human myometrium. Protease-activated receptor-4 activation exerts a mild uterotonic effect, whereas protease-activated receptor-4 antagonism results in a mild uterorelaxant effect. The potent human uterotonic effect of thrombin is not apparently mediated to any great extent by protease-activated receptor-4.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : myometrium, pregnancy/preterm labor, protease-activated receptor/thrombin
Plan
| Cite this article as: Allen NM, O’Brien M, Friel AM, Smith TJ, Morrison JJ. Expression and function of protease-activated receptor-4 in human myometrium. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007;196:169.e1-169.e6. |
Vol 196 - N° 2
P. 169.e1-169.e6 - février 2007 Retour au numéro
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