11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and pregnancy: Role in the timing of labour onset and in myometrial contraction. (15th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Damiani, Francesco; Makieva, Sofia; Rinaldi, Sara F.; Hua, Lei; Marcolongo, Paola; Petraglia, Felice; Norman, Jane E.
• Is Part Of: Molecular and cellular endocrinology. Volume 447(2017)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2017-05-15
• Subjects: 11beta-HSD -- Pregnancy -- Labour -- Myometrium -- Cortisol; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Hormones -- Periodicals; Endocrinologie -- Périodiques; Cytology; Endocrinology; Molecular biology; Periodicals; 573.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.02.034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0303-7207

Abstract

Abstract: Glucocorticoids play a primary role in the maturation of fetal organs and may contribute to the onset of labour. Glucocorticoid activity depends on the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase family (11β-HSDs), catalysing the interconversion between "active" cortisol into inactive cortisone. No definitive study exists on 11β-HSD expression profile in human decidua and myometrium during pregnancy. We investigated the implications of 11β-HSD1 in the regulation of uterine activity in pregnancy, examining its role on contraction of a myocyte cell line and murine 11β-hsd1 levels in utero. Murine 11β-hsd1 mRNA and protein levels in utero progressively increased until the last day of gestation and significantly decreased at the onset of labour (P < 0.0001) ( n = 3 to 5 in the various gestational days analysed). Experiments on human myometrial samples confirm the significant fall in 11β-hsd1 mRNA levels at labour, compared to end pregnancy samples ( n = 5 to 8). In vitro experiments showed that human myometrial contraction is inhibited by using a non-selective inhibitor of 11β-HSD1. The present study shows the temporal localisation of 11β-HSD1 in uterus, highlighting its importance in the timing of gestation and suggesting its contribution in the myometrium contraction. Highlights: The expression profile of 11β-HSD1 in murine uterus during pregnancy was examined. 11β-HSD1 increases in the mouse uterus from early to term-pregnancy. Murine 11β-HSD1 in uterus significantly decreased at the onset of labour. 11β-HSD1 is lower at the onset of labour compared to term in the human myometrium. Human myometrial contraction was inhibited in vitro by using carbenoxolone.