Expression data from primary culture human myometrial cells. Homo sapiens

Inflammation plays a central role in many human diseases. Human parturition also resembles an inflammatory reaction, where progesterone (P4) and progesterone receptors (PRs) have already been demonstrated to suppress contraction-associated gene expression. In our previous studies, we have found that the progesterone actions, including progesterone-induced gene expression and progesterone’s anti-inflammatory effect, are mediated by PR, GR or both. In this study, we used microarrays to find P4 and IL-1β responsive genes and which IL-1β responsive genes were repressed by P4. These data may provide a broader view of gene networks and cellular functions regulated by P4 and IL-1βin human myometrial cells. In our future study, this will also help us understand the role of PR and GR in human parturition. Overall design: Primary cultures of human myometrial cells were grown from myometrial biopsies obtained at the time of elective caesarean section. Cells were exposed to different stimuli, IL-1β (5ng/mL) and P4 (10 µM), either alone or in combination for 6 h, and then total RNA were extracted from each culture. Three comparisons were carried out including: 1. V vs. P4; 2. V vs. IL-1β; 3. IL-1β vs. IL-1β+P4.