C/EBPδ drives key endocrine signals in the human amnion at parturition.

ABSTRACT: Amnion-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cortisol are key to labor onset. Identification of a common transcription factor driving the expression of both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1), the key enzymes in their production, may hold the key to the treatment of pre-term labor. Here, we have found that the CCAAT enhancer binding protein δ (C/EBPδ) is such a transcription factor which underlies the feed-forward induction of COX-2 and 11β-HSD1 expression by their own products PGE2 and cortisol in human amnion fibroblasts so that their production would be ensured in the amnion for the onset of labor. Moreover, the abundance of C/EBPδ in the amnion increases along with COX-2 and 11β-HSD1 at term and further increases at parturition. Knockout of C/EBPδ

SUBMITTER: Lu JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8191398 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature