Expression of prostaglandin receptors in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected recurrent spontaneous aborters.

A study was undertaken to quantify the expression of prostaglandin (PG) receptors and find the effect of gestational age on expression of PG receptor genes in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected recurrent spontaneous aborters (RSA). Endometrial curettage tissue (ECT) was collected from 130 RSA (Group I) and 100 age-matched controls (Group II) at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi (India). PCR was performed for diagnosis of C. trachomatis cryptic plasmid; mRNA expression of PG receptor genes was assessed by real-time PCR (q-PCR), while serum progesterone/estrogen levels were determined by respective commercial kits. Data were evaluated statistically. A total of 15.4 % RSA (GroupI) were diagnosed as C. trachomatis-positive (200 bp), whereas controls were uninfected. q-PCR showed significant upregulation (P<0.0001) of PGE2 (EP-1, EP-2, EP-3, EP-4), PGF2α (FP) and PGI2 (IP) receptors in Group I versus Group II. The expression of PG receptors increased significantly with advanced gestational age (P<0.002); however, only contractile receptors, EP-1, EP-3 and FP, were positively correlated with gestational age in Group-I. In infected RSA, mean serum progesterone level was significantly low (P<0.0001) while serum oestrogen was high (P<0.0001). Overall, the data suggest that increased expression of PG receptors, particularly contractile gene receptors (EP-1, EP-3, FP), with advanced gestational age and altered steroid levels could be a possible risk factor for abortion in Chlamydia-infected RSA.

Does aberrant expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin-E2 receptor genes lead to abortion in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to characterize the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) genes in spontaneously aborted tissues from women infected with Chlamydia trachomatis. METHODS: A total of 135 spontaneous aborters (Group I) and 45 induced aborters (controls; Group II) attending Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Safdarjung hospital (New Delhi, India), were enrolled. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was performed to detect C. trachomatis DNA in endometrial curettage tissue (ECT). Differential expression of COX-2 and PGE2 receptors at mRNA level was analysed in ECT using reverse transcription PCR and real-time PCR. RESULTS: In total, 14.8% patients were diagnosed as C. trachomatis-positive in Group I whereas all control patients were C. trachomatis-negative. Qualitative expression of COX-2 (p < 0.05) and PGE2 (p < 0.0001) receptors was found increased in C. trachomatis-positive patients (Group I) in comparison to controls. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis also showed upregulation in transcript levels of both COX-2 (p < 0.002) and PGE2 (p < 0.0001) receptors in infected patients (Group I) versus Group II. COX-2 and PGE2 expression was higher (p < 0.002) in recurrent spontaneous aborters in comparison to sporadic spontaneous aborters. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that chlamydial infection leads to upregulation of COX-2 in C. trachomatis-positive recurrent spontaneous aborters, which probably mediates increased prostaglandin synthesis.