The synergistic effects of prostaglandin and IL-1β on myometrial and cervical stromal cells at the onset of labor

Abstract

Inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and prostaglandins (PGs) are pivotal in the initiation of labor. Nevertheless, the synergistic interaction between PGs and IL-1β remains to be fully elucidated. Labor is defined as regular and gradually increasing uterine contractions accompanied by progressive dilation of the cervix, and descent of the fetal. This study employed Luminex to monitor alterations in inflammatory cytokine levels within myometrial tissue (n = 10) during labor compared to non-labor (n = 10) conditions. And the synergistic relationship between PGs and IL-1β by investigating the primary myometrium cells and cervical stromal cells culture. The results showed that the inflammatory cytokines of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the myometrium tissue were increased in labor group. In myometrium cells, PGF2α and IL-1β synergistically up-regulated COX-2 mRNA, upregulated the transcription of PRA and PRB, PGF2α alleviated that IL-1β up-regulated IL-8 mRNA. In cervical stromal cells, IL-1β up-regulated the COX-2 and PRB protein expression. PGE2 abated that IL-1β up-regulated IL-8 mRNA. PGE increased the expression of PRs, which is more pronounced with the prolonged duration. Ratio of PRA/PRB show an increased trend with IL-1β and PGE2 co-regulated. This study further clarified the synergistic regulatory mechanism of IL-1β and PGs, offering a theoretical foundation for the development of strategies aimed at labor induction and the prevention and treatment of preterm birth.