Reciprocal expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and cyclooxygenase-2 in human term parturition

Objective: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is expressed in intrauterine tissues before active term human parturition, and that its repression is associated with up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Study Design: Specimens were collected from women with term singleton pregnancies after spontaneous labor or cesarean section before labor, prepared for immunoblot and immunohistochemical analysis, and probed for PPAR-gamma or COX-2. Results: PPAR-gamma expression was prominent in fetal membranes and placenta before active labor. After labor, PPAR-gamma expression was significantly reduced in fetal membranes, but not in placenta. The ratio of COX-2:PPAR-gamma was significantly elevated in fetal membranes with labor. PPAR-gamma immunostaining was prominent in syncytiotrophoblast, extravillous cytotrophoblasts, and cells of the amnion and chorion. COX-2 immunostaining was abundant in the amnion and rare in the placenta. Conclusion: PPAR-gamma is highly expressed in term intrauterine tissues. In fetal membranes, PPAR-gamma levels are reduced once active labor commences, coincidental with a relative increase in COX-2 expression. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.