General Obstetrics and Gynecology: Obstetrics
The use of cDNA microarray to identify differentially expressed labor-associated genes within the human myometrium during labor

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2004.12.021Get rights and content

Objective

Microarray technology was used to comprehensively analyze gene expression during human labor in the myometrium.

Study design

cDNA micro-array was used to compare the transcriptomes of myometrium obtained from patients in spontaneous labor and those not in labor. Expression of four labor-specific genes was confirmed in the myometrium obtained from patients in spontaneous labor using RT-PCR, Northern blot analysis, and in-situ hybridization.

Results

Of the >6000 cDNAs evaluated, 56 were found to be differentially expressed during labor. The labor-specific expression of 4 genes was confirmed using RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis. The relative increased expression of thrombospondin-1 in myometrium obtained from patients in spontaneous labor was also confirmed using in-situ hybridization.

Conclusion

cDNA microarray was used to identify 56 differentially expressed genes in myometrium obtained from patients in spontaneous labor. The up-regulation of four genes was confirmed by multiple methods. Elucidation of the role(s) of the genes identified by microarray should improve our understanding of normal labor physiology and may ultimately lead to more effective treatments for abnormal labor.

Section snippets

Sample collection

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained at both the University of Utah (IRB #8267) and LDS Hospitals (IRB #970). Samples of myometrium obtained from women in spontaneous labor and from those not in labor were obtained at the time of cesarean delivery. Labor was defined as confirmation of regular uterine contractions associated with a documented change in cervical dilation or effacement on sequential cervical examinations at greater than 37 weeks gestation. Women included in the labor

cDNA microarray

Microarray identified 56 unique differentially expressed genes (P < .01). A list of clones found to have differential expression in the myometrium during labor, in addition to the THBS1, PBEF1, SOD2 and NNMT transcripts, is included in Tables I and II. A complete listing of the genes screened and their respective raw expression data can be found at the following web address: www.uuhsc.utah.edu/obgyn/esplingenedata.exl.

The design of the microarray experiment afforded the opportunity to evaluate

Comment

Current knowledge of the pathophysiology of labor remains extremely limited due, in part, to the fact that the genes that initiate and maintain labor have historically been identified only on a case-by-case basis. We used cDNA micro-array technology to compare gene expression in quiescent and laboring lower uterine segments and to construct a labor-specific myometrial cDNA library. More than 6,000 cDNA sequences were screened using microarray, and 56 were found to have significantly increased

Acknowledgments

We thank Ms Michelle S. Lewandowski, BS, and Mr Jess Dalton, MPH, for expert assistance in the preparation of the manuscript.

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