Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Expression of hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen-sulfide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, and their mechanisms of action in amniotic tissues

Ming Liu¹, Dan Liu², Tao Duan¹, Xing-ji You³, Lu Gao³, Xin Ni³

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201204; ²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250000; ³Department of Physiology, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.

For correspondence:- Xin Ni Email: es0749@163.com

Accepted: 27 April 2018 Published: 28 May 2018

Citation: Liu M, Liu D, Duan T, You X, Gao L, Ni X. Expression of hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen-sulfide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, and their mechanisms of action in amniotic tissues. Trop J Pharm Res 2018; 17(5):781-787 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v17i5.5

© 2018 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the expressions of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine γ - lyase (CSE) and cyclooxygenase - 2 (COX - 2) and their relationships with premature delivery in amniotic tissues.

Methods: Parturients were divided into three groups: 40 preterm-labor parturients (PTL group), 28 term-labor parturients (TL group), and 28 term non-labor parturients (TNL group). Changes in expressions of CBS, CSE and COX-2 were determined by Western blot (WB) in amniotic tissues of parturients in the three groups. The expression of COX - 2 was determined after the amniotic tissues of parturients in the TNL group were cultured in vitro and processed by exogenous hydrogen-sulfide (H₂S).

Results: The expression level of COX - 2 was significantly lower in the TNL group, when compared with the PTL and TL groups (p < 0.05). The expression of CBS was increased in the order PTL > TL > TNL, with TNL group having the highest level, and there were significant differences in CBS expressions among the three groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These results suggest that when the expressions of CBS and CSE are down-regulated, the decreased H₂S synthesis promotes the overexpression of COX - 2 by NF - kB signaling pathway, causing increased prostaglandin synthesis which results in premature delivery.

Keywords: Cystathionine ^6; - synthase, Cystathionine ^7; - lyase, Cyclooxygenase - 2; Amniotic tissues; Preterm labor