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TREK and TRAAK Expression in Human Myometrium
Author(s) -
Tichenor Jennifer Noel,
Hansen Eric T,
Buxton Iain L.O.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a662
Subject(s) - myometrium , andrology , messenger rna , western blot , smooth muscle , northern blot , real time polymerase chain reaction , gene expression , uterus , biology , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , gene , genetics
Stretch activated K + channels such as TREK and TRAAK are an up‐and‐coming class of two‐pore domain K + channels that may contribute to modulating resting membrane potential in tissues such as uterine smooth muscle. We therefore investigated the expression of TREK and TRAAK in human pregnant and non‐pregnant myometrium at both an mRNA and protein level. Using semi‐quantitative relative RT‐PCR and Western blot methods, we show for the first time that TRAAK is present in uterine smooth muscle, albeit at relatively low levels. The expression of TREK is far more robust. TREK‐1 but not TREK‐2 is expressed in both pregnant and non‐pregnant myometrium. Comparison of TREK‐1 expression in several hysterectomy samples relative to 18S ribosomal mRNA suggests that expression may be regulated or could vary from subject to subject since expression is not seen in some women. A similar result was obtained in pregnant samples. When all samples expressing TREK‐1 were compared, a significant increase in TREK‐1 expression was seen in pregnant term tissues from women not in labor as compared to non‐pregnant tissues. The elucidation of these channels in human myometrium provides a platform on which to base future functional studies with the eventual aim of discerning a therapeutic target for the case of preterm labor.