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A possible ambivalent role for relaxin in human myometrial and decidual cells in vitro

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Abstract

Purpose

Based on the reported tocolytic action of the hormone relaxin (RLX) in rodents, locally produced in reproductive tissues and the corpus luteum in mammals, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of RLX on contraction-mediating cyclooxygenases-1 and -2 (COX) and the contractile prostaglandin PGE2 in human myometrial and decidual cells. Primary cultured cells were obtained from uteri and placentas of term and preterm women undergoing elective caesarean section.

Methods

In vitro culture of primary myometrial and decidual cells, immunocytochemistry, reverse transcription and real-time PCR, Western blot, ELISA.

Results

We demonstrate for the first time an activating effect of RLX for human COX-1 and COX-2 in primary myometrial and decidual cells in vitro.

Conclusions

These effects might potentially contribute to birth-associated induction of contractions in vivo.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the German Research Foundation (DFG Fr 1402/3–1) for financial support.

Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Dunja M. Baston-Büst, Alexandra P. Hess, Jens Hirchenhain, Jan S. Krüssel & Ulrike K. Friebe-Hoffmann

  2. Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany

    Jürgen Krücken

  3. Division of Molecular Parasitology, Biological and Medical Research Centre, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Frank Wunderlich

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Duesseldorf Medical Center, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Dunja M. Baston-Büst

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  1. Dunja M. Baston-Büst
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  2. Alexandra P. Hess
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  3. Jens Hirchenhain
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  4. Jürgen Krücken
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Correspondence to Dunja M. Baston-Büst.

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Baston-Büst, D.M., Hess, A.P., Hirchenhain, J. et al. A possible ambivalent role for relaxin in human myometrial and decidual cells in vitro. Arch Gynecol Obstet 280, 961–969 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-009-1046-8

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