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Changes of Lipoxin A4 and the Anti-inflammatory Role During Parturition

  • Reproductive Biology: Original Article
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Abstract

Parturition is the physiological process of newborn birth; more and more evidences show that parturition is closely related to the occurrence and resolution of inflammation. However, the inflammatory media and the mechanism are not very clear during parturition. Here, we investigate the inflammatory event during human parturition and in mouse model. We found that the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β) and cells (neutrophil and macrophage) are decreased in pregnant women in labor and in mouse labor model. Mechanistically, increased stress stimulates the high-level adrenaline production in labor. Then, adrenaline upregulates the expression of 12/15-LOX (lipoxygenase) to produce more lipoxin A4 (LXA4), which is an inflammation inhibitor. Thus, LXA4 promotes the elimination of inflammation during labor to protect the body from excessive inflammatory damages. In addition, using BOC-2, the inhibitor of LXA4 receptor could reboot the pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our study indicates that LXA4 is induced by adrenaline in labor and appropriate interference of this pathway may be a potential strategy to regulate the inflammatory process in parturition.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Grants (81871311 and 82071855).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, China

    Mei Han

  2. The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China

    Shaoyang Lai, Xuan Zhou & Jie Zhao

  3. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Rd., Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China

    Yimeng Ge & Jie Zhao

  4. National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing, 100191, China

    Jie Zhao

  5. Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China

    Jie Zhao

  6. Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, 100191, China

    Jie Zhao

Authors
  1. Mei Han
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  2. Shaoyang Lai
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  3. Yimeng Ge
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  4. Xuan Zhou
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  5. Jie Zhao
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Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: Jie Zhao. Performed the experiments: Mei Han, Shaoyang Lai, Yimeng Ge, Xuan Zhou. Human sample collection: Mei Han, Shaoyang Lai, Yimeng Ge, Xuan Zhou. Data analysis: Mei Han, Jie Zhao. Wrote the manuscript: Mei Han, Jie Zhao. Critical discussion of data: Mei Han, Jie Zhao. Critical review of manuscript: all authors.

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Correspondence to Jie Zhao.

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Han, M., Lai, S., Ge, Y. et al. Changes of Lipoxin A4 and the Anti-inflammatory Role During Parturition. Reprod. Sci. 29, 1332–1342 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-021-00800-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-021-00800-2

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