Recent attempted and actual weight change in relation to pregnancy loss: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess weight change and attempted weight loss during the 12-18 months before spontaneous conception in relation to the risk of pregnancy loss. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: United States, 2007-2011. METHODS: Women (n = 629) who were attempting pregnancy reported at baseline any weight loss attempts over the past 12 months, and their minimum and maximum weights during that time. Follow up lasted one to six menstrual cycles and throughout pregnancy. Using bodyweight measured at 4 weeks' gestation, participants were categorised as having weight loss ≥5%, weight gain ≥5%, both, or neither, over the previous 12-18 months. Log-binomial models adjusted for potential confounders. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of pregnancy loss. RESULTS: Attempted weight loss was reported by 44% of women and actual weight loss by 11%, but neither was consistently associated with pregnancy loss. The RR for recent weight gain ≥5% was 1.65 (CI 1.09, 2.49). CONCLUSIONS: Weight gain over the period spanning 12-18 months pre-conception to 4 weeks' gestation may increase the risk of pregnancy loss among fertile women with prior pregnancy losses. Attempted and actual weight loss were not associated with pregnancy loss; however, replication is needed from larger studies with data on particular weight-loss methods. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Recent weight gain before and around the time of conception may increase the risk of pregnancy loss.

Serotonin-mediated 5-HT2 receptor gene regulation in rat myometrial smooth muscle cells.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) has recently been shown to induce collagenase production in myometrial smooth muscle cells (Jeffrey et al. (1991) J. Cell. Physiol. 146, 399-406) by activating transcription of the collagenase gene (Wilcox et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 20752-20757) following an interaction with the 5-HT2 receptor (Rydelek-Fitzgerald et al. (1993) Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 91, 67-74). These studies were performed to investigate factors controlling the regulation of 5-HT2 receptors in these cells. Northern blot analysis indicates that serotonin increases levels of 5-HT2 receptor mRNA in cells by approximately 4-fold. Detectable increases in mRNA levels occur within 2 h after administration of serotonin with maximal levels occurring after 12 h. The 5-HT2 receptor antagonists, ketanserin and spiperone, inhibit the serotonin-mediated increase in receptor mRNA. Selective 5-HT2 receptor agonists ((+/-)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane HCl (DOI) and quipazine) mimic the effect of serotonin, whereas 5-HT1 and 5-HT3 receptor agonists ((+/-)-8-hydroxydipropylaminotetralin (8-OH-DPAT), 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine dihydrochloride (mCPP), m-phenylbiguanide) have no effect. These data demonstrate that serotonin induces an increase in 5-HT2 receptor mRNA by interacting with the 5-HT2 receptor itself. Nuclear run-on analysis revealed that serotonin increases the initiation of 5-HT2 receptor mRNA synthesis. Moreover, the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, prevents the induction of the mRNA for the receptor, demonstrating that serotonin-dependent increases in 5-HT2 receptor transcription require de novo protein synthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serotonin regulation of gene expression in uterine extracellular matrix: reciprocal effects on collagens and collagenase.

The regulation of collagen gene expression by serotonin was investigated in rat uterine smooth muscle cells. Serotonin treatment of myometrial cells caused decreases of up to 10-fold in levels of type I collagen mRNA. Decreases in secreted type 1 collagen protein paralleled decreases in collagen mRNA. The effective half-life of collagen mRNA in serotonin-treated cells was approximately 1.7 days. Selective 5-HT2 receptor agonists mimicked the effects of serotonin, while the effects of serotonin were blocked by 5-HT2 antagonists. Nuclear run-on analysis showed that serotonin-dependent decreases in collagen mRNA are accompanied by decreased transcription. Progesterone analogs, which inhibit the serotonin-dependent activation of the gene for interstitial collagenase, had no effect on the ability of serotonin to decrease collagen mRNA. Conversely, the cell-permeable cAMP analog, 8-bromo-cAMP, mimicked the effects of serotonin on type I collagen mRNA and protein. Serotonin also decreased levels of the mRNAs for type III collagen and fibronectin, but had no effect on the mRNAs for type IV collagen. These results indicate that serotonin, previously shown to upregulate the interstitial collagenase gene, downregulates the gene for type I collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins, possibly by a novel mechanism of action downstream of 5-HT2 receptor binding.

Regulation of uterine collagenase gene expression: interactions between serotonin and progesterone.

This report seeks to further define the requirements for the previously established induction of collagenase gene expression by serotonin and inhibition by progesterone in primary cultures of rat uterine smooth muscle cells. Detectable increases in collagenase production were observed after as little as 3 h exposure of cells to 5 microM serotonin, with maximal induction occurring after approximately 8 h of exposure. The apparent half-life of collagenase mRNA upon removal of serotonin was estimated to be approximately 12 h, and was not dependent on the duration of induction. Inhibition by either cycloheximide or progesterone showed similar half lives for collagenase mRNA, however a much shorter half-life (6 h) was obtained in the presence of actinomycin D. These experiments suggest that neither serotonin induction nor progesterone inhibition of collagenase synthesis represents a primary effect on collagenase gene transcription. Rather they appear to be secondary to changes that occur at one or more primary intermediate genes whose induction or decay must occur prior to changes in collagenase transcription. The progesterone receptor antagonist, RU-486, abrogates the ability of progesterone to inhibit serotonin-induced collagenase gene expression, indicating that the effects of progestins in this system likely are receptor-mediated. Finally, the present studies demonstrate that pretreatment of cells for times as long as 5 days with medroxyprogesterone in the absence of serotonin is unable to prevent subsequent serotonin-induced collagenase mRNA increases. These data suggest the possibility of a unique interaction between the molecular pathways of inducer and inhibitor, one in which serotonin may help mediate the progesterone-dependent repression of the levels of collagenase mRNA.

Serotonin-dependent collagenase induction in rat myometrial smooth muscle cells: mediation by the 5-HT2 receptor.

Recent studies have shown that serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) is required for the induction of interstitial collagenase in cultured rat and human myometrial smooth muscle cells. The present study was performed to determine which serotonin receptor subtype mediates the induction of collagenase in these cells. [125I]DOI ((+/- )-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-[125I]iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane), a 5-HT2 receptor agonist radioligand, bound specifically to sites in myometrial cell membranes, and exhibited binding characteristics essentially identical to those observed with brain 5-HT2 receptors. Radioligands selective for other serotonin receptor subtypes (5-HT1 and 5-HT3) failed to yield detectable binding. Northern blot analysis demonstrated the presence of 5-HT2 mRNA in the uterine smooth muscle cell cultures, whereas transcripts for 5-HT1A and 5-HT1C receptors were not detectable. Moreover, RT-PCR indicated that 5-HT2 receptor mRNA is present in freshly isolated uterine tissue as well. Selective antagonists of the 5-HT2 receptor, ketanserin and spiperone, displayed concentration-dependent inhibition of serotonin-mediated collagenase induction in the myometrial cultures. These antagonists yielded IC50 values of 4.7 nM and 2.7 nM respectively, characteristic of values expected from a 5-HT2 receptor-mediated response. In addition, a number of selective 5-HT2 receptor agonists (quipazine, alpha-methyl-serotonin, DOI) mimicked the ability of serotonin to induce collagenase production, whereas compounds selective for 5-HT1 and 5-HT3 receptor subtypes had little effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serotonin-dependent collagenase transcription in myometrial cells requires extended AP-1 site.

Primary cultures of uterine smooth muscle cells from post-partum rats express interstitial collagenase in response to serotonin and the serotonin-dependent production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) [Wilcox, B.D., Dumin, J.A. and Jeffrey, J.J. Serotonin regulation of interleukin-1 messenger RNA in rat uterine smooth muscle cells. Relationship to the production of interstitial collagenase J. Biol. Chem., 269, (1994a), 29658]. Transient transfections of these cells indicate that rat collagenase transcription is regulated via a proximal consensus AP-1 site within an extended palindrome. Mutation of either the AP-1 site or extended palindrome (EP) decreases promoter activity to approximately 30% of the wild-type. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays reveal the binding of smooth muscle cell nuclear proteins to the AP-1 EP. This binding is barely detectable after mutation of the EP and is completely eliminated by mutation of the AP-1 heptamer. Competition experiments demonstrate that binding to the AP-1 EP is specific and of higher affinity than binding to oligonucleotides containing a mutated EP. Binding to the AP-1 EP is higher when smooth muscle cells are cultured in the presence of serotonin than in its absence. Although IL-1 is required for collagenase transcription, binding to the AP-1 EP appears to be IL-1-independent. FosB, Fra-2, c-Jun, JunB and, most abundantly, JunD bind the AP-1 EP in the absence and presence of serotonin. In contrast, Fra-1 expression and binding are serotonin-dependent suggesting that the activation of Fra-1 may be a key component of collagenase transcriptional activation.

Progesterone mediates decreases in uterine smooth muscle cell interleukin-1alpha by a mechanism involving decreased stability of IL-1alpha mRNA.

The regulation, by progesterone, of serotonin-induced interleukin-1alpha production was studied in primary cultures of rat uterine smooth muscle cells. Prior reports from this laboratory have demonstrated that these cells produce IL-1alpha and IL-1beta mRNAs in response to the hormonal action of serotonin. Results of the present study indicate that treatment of myometrial smooth muscle cells with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) results in a marked decrease in IL-1alpha protein as measured by western blot analysis. These decreases occur even in the presence of maximally-inducing concentrations of serotonin. MPA-mediated changes in IL-1alpha protein are characterized by a rapid decline in IL-1alpha mRNA levels. This inhibition by medroxyprogesterone also occurs when cells are stimulated to produce IL-1alpha by PMA rather than serotonin. Thus, when cells are cultured in the presence of both inducer and inhibitor, the inhibitor, progesterone, clearly dominates in the control of IL-1alpha expression. This effect is concentration-dependent, can be mimicked by native progesterone or glucocorticoids, but is unaffected by estradiol. The ability of progestins to decrease IL-1alpha mRNA is blocked by both inhibitors of transcription and translation and by treatment with RU-486. Progesterone had no effect on chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) transcription from two different IL-1alpha promoter constructs, indicating that progesterone's action appears to be dependent on post-transcriptional rather than transcriptional regulation. Conversely, progesterone accelerated the normal rate of decay of IL-1alpha mRNA that occurs following the removal of serotonin from the cultures. These results suggest that progesterone decreases IL-1alpha levels by stimulating the production of an intracellular intermediate that decreases the stability of IL-1alpha mRNA.

Serotonin-inducible transcription of interleukin-1alpha in uterine smooth muscle cells requires an AP-1 site: cloning and partial characterization of the rat IL-1alpha promoter.

Interleukin-1 has been shown to contribute to infection-induced inflammatory processes during pregnancy. Prior work from this laboratory has demonstrated that serotonin-induced IL-1alpha also is required for the in-vitro production of collagenase in uterine smooth muscle cells, a normal, non-inflammatory process that occurs in-vivo during post-partum uterine involution. To understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate transcription of the IL-1alpha gene in these cells, we isolated and characterized 1.6 kilobases of the 5'-flanking region of the rat IL-1alpha gene. Sequencing and primer extension identified a single transcription start site and multiple potential regulatory elements, including a TATA box at - 30 bp, a CAAT box at - 74 bp, and a conserved AP-1 site at - 9 bp. This 5'-flanking DNA exhibited low basal promoter activity that was inducible by serotonin. Serotonin-induced promoter activity was unaffected or induced by either medroxyprogesterone or IL-1 receptor antagonist. This occurred despite the ability of both of these hormones to markedly decrease IL-1alpha mRNA. Deletional analysis revealed a strong repressor in the region between - 147 and - 98 bp; removal of this sequence resulted in a fivefold higher basal promoter activity that was still serotonin responsive. Constitutive promoter activity appeared to reside between - 97 and - 22 bp. Deletion of this promoter region, which contained the TATA and CAAT boxes and an NF-IL-6/PEA-3 site, resulted in decreased basal transcriptional activity to the low level seen in larger constructs. Mutational analysis showed that serotonin-inducible transcriptional activity was mediated, at least in part, by the conserved AP-1 site at - 9 bp. This site is located within a larger extended palindromic region: 5'-AAGCCTGACTCAGACTT-3', that together effects both the basal and serotonin-inducible expression of the IL-1alpha gene.

Serotonin regulation of interleukin-1 messenger RNA in rat uterine smooth muscle cells. Relationship to the production of interstitial collagenase.

Previous studies have shown that the production of interstitial collagenase by rat myometrial smooth muscle cells is dependent on serotonin. These cells fail to produce collagenase early in culture, however, and produce the enzyme only 8-12 days after confluence. During the early quiescent period, collagenase production can be induced by low concentrations of bacterial endotoxin. Under these conditions, interleukin (IL)-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNAs increase coincident with collagenase and collagenase mRNA. Serotonin removal decreases IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNAs, and effect that is rapidly reversed upon readdition of serotonin. Conversely, serotonin-dependent increases in IL-1 mRNAs are blocked by progesterone. Experiments with 5-HT2 receptor agonists and antagonists indicate that induction is mediated by the 5-HT2 receptor subtype. In serotonin-treated cells late in culture, IL-1 mRNAs increase coincident with the production of collagenase. Similarly, exogenous IL-1 fully substitutes for lipopolysaccharide in stimulating myometrial cells to produce collagenase early in culture. Cells treated with IL-1 receptor antagonist fail to make IL-1 mRNAs or collagenase but produce collagenase and IL-1 mRNAs following antagonist removal. These results indicate that serotonin-dependent IL-1 production by the myometrial cell is required for collagenase production and that IL-1 participates in its own production via an autocrine mechanism.

Regulation of collagenase gene expression by serotonin and progesterone in rat uterine smooth muscle cells.

The regulation of collagenase gene expression by serotonin and progesterone was investigated in primary cultures of rat uterine smooth muscle cells. Northern blot analysis demonstrates that serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)), when administered to cells in serotonin-depleted medium, causes 6-8-fold increases in levels of collagenase mRNA. Selective serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonists were able to mimic the effect of the natural hormone, while the induction by serotonin could be blocked by 5-HT2 receptor antagonists. Addition of phorbol ester (PMA) to 5-HT-depleted cultures fully mimicked the effect of 5-HT on collagenase mRNA induction. Treatment with progesterone analogs caused a decrease in collagenase mRNA, even in the presence of saturating levels of serotonin or PMA. In all experiments, levels of secreted collagenase were observed to correspond to levels of collagenase mRNA. Experiments with cycloheximide demonstrate that serotonin- and PMA-induced increases in collagenase mRNA are dependent on protein synthesis. Furthermore, nuclear run-on analysis shows that mRNA increases are accompanied by increases in initiation of transcripts. These data indicate that transcription of collagenase mRNA in myometrial smooth muscle cells is stimulated by serotonin, possibly via activation of protein kinase C, but is in some way prevented by the negative influence of progesterone.

IgG-coated erythrocytes augment LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha secretion, TNF-alpha mRNA levels, and TNF-alpha mRNA stability in macrophages.

Previous studies have shown that IgG-coated erythrocytes (EIgG) augment the LPS-stimulated increase in serum TNF-alpha levels in animals and the LPS-stimulated secretion of TNF-alpha by isolated macrophages. The present study evaluated the mechanism for the effect of EIgG on LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha secretion in the murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. Incubation of the macrophages with EIgG or IgG-coated glass beads caused a dose-dependent augmentation of LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha secretion. The addition of EIgG increased the rate of LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha protein secretion between 2 and 4 hr after LPS. Accordingly, EIgG increased the levels of TNF-alpha mRNA at 2 and 3 hr after LPS. The increase in the LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha mRNA levels caused by EIgG was associated with an increase in TNF-alpha mRNA stability. Thus, the augmentation of LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha secretion by EIgG was associated with an increase in TNF-alpha mRNA levels which at least partly resulted from an increase in the stability of TNF-alpha mRNA.

Regulation of rat 5-hydroxytryptamine type 2 receptor gene activity: identification of cis elements that mediate basal and 5-hydroxytryptamine-dependent gene activation.

The 5-hydroxytryptamine type 2 receptor gene is transcriptionally induced by 5-HT-mediated activation of the 5-HT2 receptor in rat myometrial smooth muscle cells. We recently cloned the promoter of the rat 5-HT2 receptor gene and showed that a 1.4-kilobase promoter construct transfected into myometrial smooth muscle cells displays both constitutive and serotonin-dependent promoter activity. We have examined a series of deletional mutants of this promoter for their transcriptional activity. Deletions from base pair (bp) -1314 to bp -184 (with respect to the major transcriptional start (site) resulted in no changes in constitutive or 5-HT-dependent transcriptional activity. A substantial loss of serotonin-dependent transcriptional activation was observed with a promoter construct from which the bp -184 to -108 sequence was deleted. A sequence [termed the serotonin-1 (S1) element], 5'-AGGTTnnnnnnnAACCT-3' (where n represents any deoxynucleotide), containing a novel dyad repeat is contained within this region. In addition to the S1 element, two simian virus 40 promoter factor 1 (SP-1) sites contiguous to this site, as well as an initiator element, appear to be important. Deletion of both the S1 and SP-1 sites resulted in an almost total loss of activity. Myometrial smooth muscle cells contain nuclear proteins that interact specifically with the S1 and SP-1 elements. Thus, multiple elements appear to be involved in serotonin-dependent induction of promoter activity. Analysis of the promoter elements that direct constitutive (i.e., serotonin-independent) activity revealed the involvement of a different region. Deletions from bp -1314 to bp -75 resulted in only minor increases in basal promoter activity. Deletion to bp -50 resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in basal promoter activity, whereas deletion to bp -25 resulted in a 5-fold increase in promoter activity. These results suggest that the basal promoter unit includes bp -25 to 1 and that upstream sequences act to repress basal promoter activity.

Detection of 5-hydroxytryptamine2 receptors by radioligand binding, northern blot analysis, and Ca2+ responses in rat primary astrocyte cultures.

Radioligand binding, Northern blot analysis, and changes in [Ca2+]i were used to study serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT)] receptor subtypes in primary cultures of astrocytes from neonatal rat cerebral cortex. Radioligand binding studies revealed the presence of 5HT2, but not the 5HT1 or 5HT3 receptor subtypes. Radioligand binding was also used to show the presence of serotonin uptake sites, which had previously been shown to be present by [3H]-5HT uptake, and also alpha 1-adrenergic receptors as has previously been reported by binding studies. Northern blot analysis of cortical astrocyte mRNA demonstrated the presence of transcripts for 5HT2 receptors, but failed to identify mRNA for 5HT1a or 5HT1c receptors. Thus, results from Northern blot analysis correlated with the radioligand binding data which showed only 5HT2 receptors. Equilibrium saturation studies, using 125[I]-LSD to label 5HT2 receptors, yielded a KD of 9 nM and a Bmax of 177 fmol/mg protein. Radioligand binding studies or primary astrocyte cultures prepared from other brain regions also showed the presence of alpha 1-adrenergic, 5HT2 receptor, and 5HT-uptake sites, but no detectable 5HT1a receptors, which were the only 5HT1 receptors studied. Studies demonstrating 5HT-induced, spiperone- and ketanserin-sensitive increases in free [Ca2+]i as measured by FURA-2, showed that the 5HT2 receptors were functional in these cells. These data provide clear evidence for the existence of both 5HT2 receptors and 5HT-uptake sites in the same primary astrocyte cultures from neonatal rat cerebral cortex, with no detectable evidence of 5HT1a or 5HT1c subtypes.

Isolation and characterization of the rat 5-hydroxytryptamine type 2 receptor promoter: constitutive and inducible activity in myometrial smooth muscle cells.

Previous studies from this laboratory have demonstrated that the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT2) receptor subtype is transcriptionally regulated by 5-HT (serotonin) itself in rat myometrial smooth muscle cells. To better understand this transcriptional regulation, we have isolated and characterized the 5'-flanking region of the 5-HT2 receptor gene. Screening of a rat genomic library was accomplished using 5'-directed fragments of 5-HT2 cDNA, and a 5.2-kilobase fragment was isolated. Sequencing demonstrated that the fragment overlapped the 5'-end of the 5-HT2 cDNA by 226 base pairs. Primer extension and RNase protection analyses indicated that three transcriptional start sites, which are common to both rat brain and myometrium, appear to exist and that the 5'-untranslated region of the 5-HT2 receptor cDNA is 1120 base pairs long. Neither classical TATA boxes nor CCAAT sequences were found upstream of any of the start sites identified. Upstream of the dominant start site, however, an initiator consensus sequence, two GC boxes (SP-1 binding sites), and several AP-2 binding sites were identified. Based on this information, a 1.4-kilobase fragment beginning 64 base pairs downstream from the dominant start site was constructed by polymerase chain reaction and ligated into a pCAT vector. Transient transfection of this construct into rat myometrial smooth muscle cells displayed both constitutive and serotonin-induced promoter activity. Serotonin-inducible activity was abolished by a selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonist; however, antagonists selective for other 5-HT receptor subtypes were without effect. Conversely, a selective 5-HT2 receptor agonist completely substituted for serotonin as an inducer. Preliminary deletion experiments indicate that regulation of basal and serotonin-inducible activity likely depends upon different cis elements in the 5-HT2 receptor gene promoter.

Localization and regulation of IL-1alpha in rat myometrium during late pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been implicated as a participant in preterm labor that is induced by bacterial infection. Previously, we showed that serotonin-induced production of IL-1alpha by myometrial smooth muscle cells in vitro is also essential for the synthesis of interstitial collagenase. It is therefore likely that IL-1alpha production in uterine tissues has implications for both the normal physiology of involution and for the pathophysiological mechanisms of preterm labor. The objective of this study was to characterize the serotonin-induced production of IL-1alpha by myometrial cultures in vitro and to assess the production of IL-1alpha and its relationship to collagenase production in vivo during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated IL-1alpha protein in the nuclei and cytoplasm of serotonin-treated myometrial cells. IL-1alpha levels were decreased by treatment with progesterone or IL-1-receptor antagonist but were unaffected by lipopolysaccharide. Western analysis of myometrium from pregnant rats showed low levels of IL-1alpha during midpregnancy with increased concentrations at days 21 and 22 and postpartum. IL-1alpha mRNA levels also increased from days 15 to 22. Levels of mRNA for IL-1beta also increased, although to a lesser degree than IL-1alpha. Both mRNAs decreased postpartum. Conversely, mRNA for interstitial collagenase was barely detectable at term but increased postpartum. Together, these data show that serotonin stimulates IL-1alpha production in vitro and indicate that normal myometrium from pregnant rats is an identifiable source of IL-1 during late pregnancy. The findings are consistent with the possibility that myometrial IL-1alpha participates in normal labor as well as the postpartum production of interstitial collagenase.

Potentiation by thyroid hormone of human IFN-gamma-induced HLA-DR expression.

We have investigated the mechanism by which thyroid hormone potentiates IFN-gamma-induced HLA-DR expression. IFN-gamma-induced HLA-DR expression requires activation of STAT1alpha and induction of the Class II trans-activator, CIITA. HeLa and CV-1 cells treated only with L-thyroxine (T4) demonstrated increased tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear translocation (= activation) of STAT1alpha; this hormone effect on signal transduction, and T4 potentiation of IFN-gamma-induced HLA-DR expression, were blocked by the inhibitors CGP 41251 (PKC) and genistein (tyrosine kinase). Treatment of cells with T4-agarose also caused activation of STAT1alpha. In the presence of IFN-gamma, T4 enhanced cytokine-induced STAT1alpha activation. Potentiation by T4 of IFN-gamma action was associated with increased mRNA for both CIITA and HLA-DR, with peak enhancement at 16 h (CIITA), and 2 d (HLA-DR). T4 increased IFN-gamma-induced HLA-DR protein 2.2-fold and HLA-DR mRNA fourfold after 2 d. Treatment with actinomycin D after induction of HLA-DR mRNA with IFN-gamma, with or without T4, showed that thyroid hormone decreased the t(1/2) of mRNA from 2.4 to 1.1 h. HeLa and CV-1 cells lack functional nuclear thyroid hormone receptor. Tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) and 3,5,3'-triiodo-thyroacetic acid (triac) blocked T4 potentiation of IFN-gamma-induced HLA-DR expression and T4 activation of STAT1alpha. These studies define an early hormone recognition step at the cell surface that is novel, distinct from nuclear thyroid hormone receptor, and blocked by tetrac and triac. Thus, thyroid hormone potentiation of IFN-gamma-induced HLA-DR transcription is mediated by a cell membrane hormone binding site, enhanced activation of STAT1alpha, and increased CIITA induction.

Serotonin-mediated production of interstitial collagenase by uterine smooth muscle cells requires interleukin-1alpha, but not interleukin-1beta.

The activation of the gene for interstitial collagenase in myometrial smooth muscle cells is absolutely dependent upon the presence of serotonin. Our previous studies investigating the mechanisms of this induction demonstrated that the mRNAs of both interleukin-1 (IL-1) isoforms, IL-1alpha and IL-1beta, are induced by serotonin and that the induction of IL-1 is required for the subsequent induction of collagenase. These data provided compelling evidence that serotonin-induced IL-1 acts via an autocrine loop in activating the collagenase gene. The experiments described here were designed to examine the potential role of each IL-1 isoform in collagenase production by using neutralizing antisera specific to each isoform of the cytokine. The antisera were examined for their ability to inhibit the serotonin-dependent production of the mRNA for collagenase and of the cytokines themselves. Neutralizing antiserum against IL-1alpha, but not against IL-1beta, inhibited the induction of the mRNA for collagenase and of the mRNAs for both IL-1alpha and IL-1beta. Western analysis indicated that detectable levels of IL-1alpha protein, but not that of IL-1beta, are produced at the time of serotonin-dependent collagenase induction. In contrast, significant levels of IL-1beta protein are detected only when bacterial lipopolysaccharide is added to the cells. Taken together, the results of our study indicate that IL-1alpha, but not IL-1beta, plays an obligatory role in multiple serotonin-mediated gene regulations in the myometrial smooth muscle cell. In addition, the data suggest that IL-1beta production has the potential for modifying myometrial function in pathological settings, particularly that of uterine infection.