Stephen, Gillian L., Lui, Sylvia, Hamilton, Sarah A., Tower, Clare L., Harris, Lynda K., Stevens, Adam, and Jones, Rebecca L.
Problem Inflammation is a driver of labor in myometrium and cervix; however, the involvement of decidua is poorly defined. We have reported decidual leukocyte infiltration prior to and during labor; the regulators of these inflammatory processes are unknown. Method of study Choriodecidua RNA obtained after term labor or elective cesarean delivery was applied to Affymetrix GeneChips. Pathway analysis and gene validation were performed. Results Extensive inflammatory activation was identified in choriodecidua following labor, predominantly upregulation of genes regulating leukocyte trafficking and cytokine signalling. Genes governing cell fate, tissue remodelling, and translation were also altered. Upregulation of candidate genes ( ICAM1, CXCR4, CD44, TLR4, SOCS3, BCL2A, and IDO) was confirmed. NFκB, STAT1&3, HMGB1, and mi RNA-21, mi RNA-46, mi RNA-141, and mi RNA-200 were predicted upstream regulators. Conclusion This study confirms inflammatory processes are major players in labor events in choriodecidua, as in other gestational tissues. Suppressing uterine inflammation is likely to be critical for arresting premature labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]