Changes in PGRMC1, a potential progesterone receptor, in human myometrium during pregnancy and labour at term and preterm
Open Access
- 2 December 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Molecular Human Reproduction
- Vol. 17 (4), 233-242
- https://doi.org/10.1093/molehr/gaq096
Abstract
This study assesses the role of progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) in actions of progesterone (P4) on human myometrium during pregnancy and labour. Myometrial tissues were obtained from non-pregnant patients during hysterectomy or pregnant women undergoing C-section at term and preterm, before and during labour. PGRMC1 expression in myometrial tissues and in a human myometrial cell line (HM9) was assessed by western blots and RT–PCR. The subcellular localization of PGRMC1 in HM9 was performed by immunofluorescence staining. Isometric contractions of myometrial tissues were obtained in response to P4 with and without addition of specific antibodies against PGRMC1. Endogenous and over-expressed PGRMC1 proteins are detected by western blots in myometrial tissues, HM9 and 293 cells, respectively. PGRMC1 is localized to the plasma membrane, cytoplasm and nuclear membranes. PGRMC1 is lower in myometrium of women at term either not in labour (P = 0.004) or in labour (P = 0.005) compared with tissues from women in preterm non-labour. PGRMC1 levels are also decreased (P = 0.02) in myometrial tissues from women during preterm labour compared with preterm non-labour. P4 rapidly inhibits contractions of myometrial tissues compared with control (P < 0.05) in vitro. Pretreatment of myometrial strips with PGRMC1 antibody, suppresses the P4-induced relaxation (P < 0.05). PGRMC1 may mediate the non-genomic action of P4 and the relaxation effect on human myometrium during pregnancy. A decrease in PGRMC1 during term or preterm labour might contribute to the ‘functional withdrawal’ of P4 action and shift the balance to a state of heightened uterine contractility.Keywords
This publication has 44 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Effect of Progesterone on Myometrial Contractility, Potassium Channels, and Tocolytic EfficacyReproductive Sciences, 2009
- Non-genomic progesterone actions in female reproductionHuman Reproduction Update, 2008
- Progesterone receptor membrane component 1: An integrative reviewThe Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2007
- Up-Regulation of the Progesterone Receptor (PR)-C Isoform in Laboring Myometrium by Activation of Nuclear Factor-κB May Contribute to the Onset of Labor through Inhibition of PR FunctionMolecular Endocrinology, 2006
- Overexpression of the Cytochrome P450 Activator Hpr6 (Heme-1 Domain Protein/Human Progesterone Receptor) in TumorsTumor Biology, 2005
- Large-scale characterization of HeLa cell nuclear phosphoproteinsProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2004
- Specific Progesterone Binding to a Membrane Protein and Related Nongenomic Effects on Ca2+-Fluxes in SpermEndocrinology, 1999
- Recognition of a human sperm surface protein involved in the progesterone-initiated acrosome reaction by antisera against an endomembrane progesterone binding protein from porcine liverMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 1999
- Short CommunicationBiological Chemistry, 1998
- A Study of the Interaction between Progesterone and Membrane Lipids*Endocrinology, 1983