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Expression of Transient Receptor Channel Proteins in Human Fundal Myometrium in Pregnancy

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Abstract

Objective

Cation channels comprised of transient receptor potential (TrpC) proteins may play a role in signal-regulated calcium entry and calcium homeostasis in myometrium. The objective of this study was to determine the relative abundance of specific TrpC mRNAs expressed in human myometrium and determine if TrpC mRNA and protein concentrations differ in fundal myometrium before and after the onset of labor.

Methods

A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR) procedure was developed for determining the concentration of TrpC mRNA expression in immortalized and primary human myometrial cells and myometrial fundus tissues from patients before and after the onset of labor. The corresponding TrpC proteins were detected by Western blot analysis and immu no h istochem is try.

Results

hTrpC1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 mRNAs were expressed in two lines of immortalized human myometrial cells and in primary human myocytes. In all of these cells, hTrpC1 and hTrpC4 mRNAs were the most abundant? followed by hTrpC6. A similar distribution was observed in fundal myometrium samples from patients before and after the onset of labor. hTrpC4 mRNA was significantly lower after the onset of labor; there were no significant changes in the concentrations of other TrpC mRNAs. Immuno- h is to chemistry identified hTrpCl, 3, 4, and 6 proteins in myometrial smooth muscle cells. Western blot analysis of myometrial membranes demonstrated no statistically significant changes in hTrpCl, 3, 4 and 6 proteins between samples collected before and after the onset of labor.

Conclusions

We have demonstrated that hTrpC1 and hTrpC4 are the most abundant TrpC mRNAs in human myometrium, with TrpC6 being the next most abundant. There was no increase in TrpC mRNA or protein in fundal myometrium with the onset of labor. Nonetheless, these isoforms may play significant roles in signal regulated calcium entry in human myometrium.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. C.-Y.K and L.B. contributed equally as first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery #1683, Fort Collins, Coloroda, 80523, USA

    Chun-Ying Ku PhD, Lidiya Babich PhD, R. Ann Word MD, Miao Zhong PhD, Aida Ulloa, Manju Monga MD & Barbara M. Sanborn PhD

  2. Department of Biochemistry of Muscles, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, Kiev, Ukraine

    Chun-Ying Ku PhD, Lidiya Babich PhD, R. Ann Word MD, Miao Zhong PhD, Aida Ulloa, Manju Monga MD & Barbara M. Sanborn PhD

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas, USA

    Chun-Ying Ku PhD, Lidiya Babich PhD, R. Ann Word MD, Miao Zhong PhD, Aida Ulloa, Manju Monga MD & Barbara M. Sanborn PhD

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA

    Chun-Ying Ku PhD, Lidiya Babich PhD, R. Ann Word MD, Miao Zhong PhD, Aida Ulloa, Manju Monga MD & Barbara M. Sanborn PhD

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  1. Chun-Ying Ku PhD
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  2. Lidiya Babich PhD
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  5. Aida Ulloa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chun-Ying Ku PhD.

Additional information

Supported by HD38970 (B.M.S.) and HD11149 (R.A.W.).

The authors acknowledge the assistance of Dianna Campbell in obtaining specimens in Houston and Jennifer Phillips for assistance in the preparation of the manuscript.

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Ku, CY., Babich, L., Word, R.A. et al. Expression of Transient Receptor Channel Proteins in Human Fundal Myometrium in Pregnancy. Reprod. Sci. 13, 217–225 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsgi.2005.12.007

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsgi.2005.12.007

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