Angiogenesis gene expression in mouse uterus during the common pathway of parturition.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate changes in the expression of angiogenesis-related genes during the common terminal pathway of parturition including spontaneous labor at term, as well as preterm labor (PTL), induced by either bacteria or ovariectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Preterm pregnant mice (14.5 days of gestation) were treated with the following: (1) intrauterine injection of media; (2) intrauterine injection of heat-inactivated Escherichia coli; (3) ovariectomy; and (4) sham operation. Tissues from mice at term (19.5 days of gestation) were collected at term not in labor, term in labor, and 12 hours postpartum. Angiogenesis-related gene expression levels were quantitated by the measurement of specific mRNAs in uterine tissue by RT-qPCR and analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: The following results were found: (1) microarray analysis of the uterine transcriptome indicated an enrichment for the gene ontology category of angiogenesis in bacteria-induced PTL samples (P < or = .093); (2) several genes related to angiogenesis demonstrated significantly increased expression in samples in either term spontaneous labor or preterm labor; and (3) qRT-PCR measurements demonstrated that spontaneous term labor and preterm labor induced by either bacteria or ovariectomy all substantially increased the expression of multiple angiogenesis-related genes (P < or = .0003; Angpt2, Ctgf, Cyr61, Dscr1, Pgf, Serpine1, Thbs1, and Wisp 1). CONCLUSION: Spontaneous labor at term, as well as pathologically induced preterm labor, all result in greatly increased expression of angiogenesis-related genes in the uterus.

Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization Methods for microRNA Biomarker Monitoring of Drug Safety and Efficacy.

Disease research and treatment development have turned to the impact and utility of microRNA. The dynamic and highly specific expression of these molecular regulators can be used to predict and monitor disease progression as well as therapeutic treatment efficacy and safety, thus aiding decisions in patient care. In situ hybridization (ISH) of biopsy material has become a routine clinical pathology procedure for monitoring gene structure, expression, and sample characterization. For ribonucleic acid (RNA), determining cell source and level of expression of these biomarkers gives insight into the cellular function and physiopathology. Identification and monitoring of microRNA biomarkers are made possible through locked nucleic acid (LNA)™-based detection probes. LNA™ enhances the sensitivity and specificity of target binding, most profoundly so for the short, highly similar, microRNA sequences. We present a robust 1-day ISH protocol for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections based on microRNA-specific LNA™ detection probes which can be labeled with digoxigenin (DIG) or 6-carboxyfluorescein (FAM) and detected through enzyme-linked specific antibodies that catalyze substrates into deposited chromogen products at the target RNA site. The variety of haptens and detection reagents in combination with LNA™ chemistry offer flexibility and ease to multiple target assessment of therapeutic response.

Uterine transcriptomes of bacteria-induced and ovariectomy-induced preterm labor in mice are characterized by differential expression of arachidonate metabolism genes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify changes in gene expression that are associated with preterm labor induced by either bacteria or ovariectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant mice (14.5 days of gestation) were allocated to: (1) intrauterine injection of heat-inactivated Escherichia coli; (2) media alone; (3) ovariectomy; or (4) sham operation. The uterine transcriptome was studied with photolithographic, very short oligonucleotide-based microarrays, and arachidonate metabolism genes were assayed with quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Significance was determined by analysis of variance. RESULTS: Microarray-based gene expression changes in the arachidonate metabolism pathway are associated globally with bacteria-induced preterm labor (P < or = .0031) and ovariectomy-induced preterm labor (P < or = .00036). Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction measurements demonstrated that bacteria-induced preterm labor substantially increased the expression of genes involved in prostaglandin synthesis. In contrast, ovariectomy-induced preterm labor increased the expression of genes involved in lipoxin, leukotriene, and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid synthesis. CONCLUSION: Bacteria-induced and ovariectomy-induced preterm labor each express a different balance of genes that are required for the synthesis of prostaglandins, lipoxins, leukotrienes, and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids.