nuclear factor kappa b activation occurs in the amnion prior to labour onset and modulates the expression of numerous labour associated genes核因子k b激活发生在劳动力开始前羊膜和调节众多劳动力相关的基因的表达.pdfVIP

Nuclear Factor Kappa B Activation Occurs in the Amnion Prior to Labour Onset and Modulates the Expression of Numerous Labour Associated Genes 1 1 1 1 1 2 Sheri Lim , David A. MacIntyre , Yun S. Lee , Shirin Khanjani , Vasso Terzidou , T. G. Teoh , Phillip R. Bennett1* 1 Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Institute of Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Mary’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom Abstract Background: Prior to the onset of human labour there is an increase in the synthesis of prostaglandins, cytokines and chemokines in the fetal membranes, particular the amnion. This is associated with activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB). In this study we characterised the level of NFkB activity in amnion epithelial cells as a measure of amnion activation in samples collected from women undergoing caesarean section at 39 weeks gestation prior to the onset of labour. Methodology/Principal Findings: We found that a proportion of women exhibit low or moderate NFkB activity while other women exhibit high levels of NFkB activity (n = 12). This activation process does not appear to involve classical pathways of NFkB activation but rather is correlated with an increase in nuclear p65-Rel-B dimers. To identify the full range of genes upregulated in association with amnion activation, microarray analysis was performed on carefully characterised non- activated amnion (n = 3) samples and compared to activated samples (n = 3). A total of 919 genes were upregulated in response to amnion activation including numerous inflammatory genes such cycloox