This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 90/1/237    most recent Author Manuscript (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Terzidou, V. Articles by Johnson, M. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Terzidou, V. Articles by Johnson, M. R. Related Collections Female Endocrinology

Mechanical Stretch Up-Regulates the Human Oxytocin Receptor in Primary Human Uterine Myocytes

Imperial College Parturition Research Group (V.T., P.R.B.), Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (S.R.S., L.U.K., M.R.J.), Imperial College School of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom; and Department of Biological Sciences (S.T.), University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Mark R. Johnson, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom. E-mail: mark.johnson{at}imperial.ac.uk.

Oxytocin receptor (OTR) expression is increased before the onset of labor in all models of parturition. However, the mechanisms responsible for the increase in OTR expression are uncertain. Animal data suggest that uterine stretch increases OTR mRNA expression. In primary cultures of human uterine smooth muscle cells obtained from nonpregnant (NP) women and pregnant women before (NL) and after (L) the onset of labor, we investigated the effect of stretch on the expression of OTR mRNA and DNA binding of activator protein-1 (AP-1), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)ß, and nuclear factor-B transcription factors. OTR expression was least in NL, intermediate in NP, and greatest in L cells. Stretch of NL cells resulted in up-regulation of OTR mRNA expression associated with increased OTR gene promoter activity. Stretch of NP and L cells did not affect OTR mRNA expression. The increased promoter activity was associated with increased DNA binding of C/EBP and AP-1 but not nuclear factor-B transcription factors. Overexpression of C/EBP, but not AP-1, increased OTR promoter activity. We conclude that stretch of NL cells results in increased OTR mRNA expression probably through increased C/EBPß DNA binding. These data suggest that stretch contributes to the massive increase in OTR expression before the onset of human labor.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Tattersall, N. Engineer, S. Khanjani, S. R Sooranna, V. H Roberts, P. L Grigsby, Z. Liang, L. Myatt, and M. R Johnson Pro-labour myometrial gene expression: are preterm labour and term labour the same? Reproduction, April 1, 2008; 135(4): 569 - 579. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. Mohan, S. R. Sooranna, T. M. Lindstrom, M. R. Johnson, and P. R. Bennett The Effect of Mechanical Stretch on Cyclooxygenase Type 2 Expression and Activator Protein-1 and Nuclear Factor-{kappa}B Activity in Human Amnion Cells Endocrinology, April 1, 2007; 148(4): 1850 - 1857. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Dalrymple, K. Mahn, L. Poston, E. Songu-Mize, and R.M. Tribe Mechanical stretch regulates TRPC expression and calcium entry in human myometrial smooth muscle cells Mol. Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2007; 13(3): 171 - 179*. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.R. Sooranna, P. Grigsby, L. Myatt, P.R. Bennett, and M.R. Johnson Prostanoid receptors in human uterine myocytes: the effect of reproductive state and stretch Mol. Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2005; 11(12): 859 - 864. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M Lindstrom and P. R Bennett The role of nuclear factor kappa B in human labour Reproduction, November 1, 2005; 130(5): 569 - 581. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Sooranna, N. Engineer, J. A. Z. Loudon, V. Terzidou, P. R. Bennett, and M. R. Johnson The Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Dependent Expression of Prostaglandin H Synthase-2 and Interleukin-8 Messenger Ribonucleic Acid by Myometrial Cells: The Differential Effect of Stretch and Interleukin-1{beta} J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2005; 90(6): 3517 - 3527. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]