Human Reproduction, Vol. 14, No. 8, 2089-2096,
August 1999
© 1999 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 and their inhibitors are produced by the human uterine cervix but their secretion is not regulated by nitric oxide donors
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Glasgow, 10 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow G31 2ER and 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre for Reproductive Biology, 37 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh EH3 9EW, UK
We have investigated the presence of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and -9 and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP) in the human uterine cervix. We postulate that during the process of cervical ripening, there is an increase in the activity of MMP in order to facilitate cervical connective tissue change. We have previously demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) donors induce cervical ripening in vivo. A secondary hypothesis is that NO donors regulate MMP activity within the human uterine cervix. Cervical tissue biopsies were obtained from both pregnant and non-pregnant subjects. Cervical fibroblasts were cultured from the non-pregnant tissue. MMP-2 was present in conditioned media from pregnant and non-pregnant cervical explants and non-pregnant cervical fibroblasts. MMP-9 secretion was only detected in explants from non-pregnant women. TIMP-1, -2 and -4 were released by all cervical explants and fibroblast preparations. Pregnant women, in the first trimester, were treated with an NO donor (isosorbide mononitrate) in vivo. Cervical explants and fibroblasts from non-pregnant women were treated with the NO donor spermine nonoate in vitro. Treatment with an NO donor either in vivo or in vitro had no effect on the secretion of the MMP or TIMP studied. Further studies evaluating the mechanisms involved in cervical ripening are required.
Key words: cervix/matrix metalloproteinase/nitric oxide/pregnancy/uterus
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  A. Dubicke, A. Akerud, M. Sennstrom, R. Rafik Hamad, B. Bystrom, A. Malmstrom, and G. Ekman-Ordeberg Different secretion patterns of matrix metalloproteinases and IL-8 and effect of corticotropin-releasing hormone in preterm and term cervical fibroblasts Mol. Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2008; 14(11): 641 - 647. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Smith Parturition N. Engl. J. Med., January 18, 2007; 356(3): 271 - 283. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Takemura, H. Itoh, N. Sagawa, S. Yura, D. Korita, K. Kakui, N. Hirota, and S. Fujii Cyclic mechanical stretch augments both interleukin-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-3 production in the cultured human uterine cervical fibroblast cells Mol. Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2004; 10(8): 573 - 580. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Stygar, H. Wang, Y. S. Vladic, G. Ekman, H. Eriksson, and L. Sahlin Increased Level of Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in the Ripening Process of the Human Cervix Biol Reprod, September 1, 2002; 67(3): 889 - 894. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Yoshida, N. Sagawa, H. Itoh, S. Yura, M. Takemura, Y. Wada, T. Sato, A. Ito, and S. Fujii Prostaglandin F2{alpha}, cytokines and cyclic mechanical stretch augment matrix metalloproteinase-1 secretion from cultured human uterine cervical fibroblast cells Mol. Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2002; 8(7): 681 - 687. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Yoshida, N. Sagawa, H. Itoh, S. Yura, D. Korita, K. Kakui, N. Hirota, T. Sato, A. Ito, and S. Fujii Nitric oxide increases matrix metalloproteinase-1 production in human uterine cervical fibroblast cells Mol. Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2001; 7(10): 979 - 985. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M.-A. Ledingham, A. J. Thomson, A. Young, L. M. Macara, I. A. Greer, and J. E. Norman Changes in the expression of nitric oxide synthase in the human uterine cervix during pregnancy and parturition Mol. Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2000; 6(11): 1041 - 1048. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. C. Denison, S. C. Riley, C. L. Elliott, R. W. Kelly, A. A. Calder, and H. O.D. Critchley The effect of mifepristone administration on leukocyte populations, matrix metalloproteinases and inflammatory mediators in the first trimester cervix Mol. Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2000; 6(6): 541 - 548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. B. Sennstrom, G. Ekman, G. Westergren-Thorsson, A. Malmstrom, B. Bystrom, U. Endresen, N. Mlambo, M. Norman, B. Stabi, and A. Brauner Human cervical ripening, an inflammatory process mediated by cytokines Mol. Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2000; 6(4): 375 - 381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Shi, S.-Q. Shi, G. R. Saade, K. Chwalisz, and R. E. Garfield Studies of cervical ripening in pregnant rats: effects of various treatments Mol. Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2000; 6(4): 382 - 389. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|