Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 6, No. 12, 1147-1153,
December 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Pregnancy |
The expression of glutaredoxin is increased in the human cervix in term pregnancy and immediately post-partum, particularly after prostaglandin-induced delivery
1 Division for Reproductive Endocrinology, 2 Division for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Woman and Child Health and 3 Medical Nobel Institute for Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Abstract
Glutaredoxins are glutathione disulphide oxidoreductases catalysing disulphide reductions via a redox active disulphide. We have examined the presence of glutaredoxin in the human cervix, and its differential expression during cervical remodelling in term pregnancy and immediately post-partum as compared to the non-pregnant state. Cervical biopsies were obtained from 24 term-pregnant and 24 post-partal women, of which 10 were taken after spontaneous delivery, 10 after prostaglandin-induced delivery and four after mifepristone-induced delivery, all obtained within 15 min after delivery. Six non-pregnant women served as controls. The tissues were analysed for the glutaredoxin mRNA levels using a solution hybridization method. Glutaredoxin mRNA was expressed in the human cervix, the level increased 
2-fold at term pregnancy and immediately post-partum. The level of cervical glutaredoxin mRNA from prostaglandin E2-treated women was 3-fold higher than after spontaneous ripening and delivery. Localization of glutaredoxin was visualized with immunohistochemistry in cervices from two post-partal women, and was compared to that of thioredoxin. We conclude that glutaredoxin may be involved in the regulation of cervical ripening in humans, particularly in the inflammatory reaction seen during this process. Glutaredoxin mRNA levels are up-regulated after prostaglandin treatment, which is effective and the most commonly used substance for cervical priming and induction of labour.
cervix/glutaredoxin/pregnancy/redox regulation/thioredoxin
Notes
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Division for Reproductive Endocrinology, Karolinska Hospital, L5:01, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: Lena.Sahlin{at}kbh.ki.se
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