The microRNA (miR)-199a/214 cluster mediates opposing effects of progesterone and estrogen on uterine contractility during pregnancy and labor.

ABSTRACT: Progesterone (P(4)) and estradiol-17β (E(2)) play critical and opposing roles in regulating myometrial quiescence and contractility during pregnancy and labor. Although these contrasting hormonal effects are likely mediated via differential regulation of inflammatory and contractile genes, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Recently we discovered that targets of the microRNA (miR)-200 family, transcription factors zinc finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB)-1 and ZEB2, serve as P(4)/progesterone receptor-mediated regulators of uterine quiescence during pregnancy. In the present study, we found that levels of the clustered miRNAs, miR-199a-3p and miR-214, were significantly decreased in laboring myometrium of pregnant mice and humans and in an inflammatory mouse model of

SUBMITTER: Williams KC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3487626 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature