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Profile of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha [HIF‐1a], vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], and its receptors in the postpartum uterine cervix of mice
Author(s) -
Fike Molly,
Stanley Robert,
Jesmin Subrina,
Mowa Chishimba
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.734.7
Subject(s) - cervix , vascular endothelial growth factor , kinase insert domain receptor , receptor , uterus , hypoxia (environmental) , endocrinology , biology , medicine , hypoxia inducible factors , andrology , wound healing , vascular endothelial growth factor a , vegf receptors , immunology , chemistry , cancer , biochemistry , organic chemistry , oxygen , gene
The uterine cervix undergoes pronounced changes prior to term (pre‐partum) for a timely passage of the fetus, and also marked changes immediately after term or birth (post‐partum=pp) to enhance tissue repair in order to restore the tissue to its nonpregnant state. Because the vasculature plays a vital role in wound repair, it likely plays a similar function in pp uterine cervical repair, and since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the key architect of vascular events and hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α) is the most potent transcription factor of VEGF, we examined the profile of HIF‐1α, VEGF, and VEGF receptors in the pp uterine cervix using timed‐pregnant (day 10) mice (C57BL6/129SvEv) allowed to undergo normal gestation and labor. Tissues (n=3) were harvested at an interval of 8hr, beginning with the emergence of the first pup (0hrs pp) to 48hrs pp, and analyzed for presence and quantity of HIF1‐α and VEGF and its receptors, Flt‐1 & KDR, using qRT‐PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. All molecules were found to be readily expressed during the initial part of pp, but declined by 2 days pp, relative to 0hrs pp. We conclude that HIF‐1α, VEGF, Flt‐1 and KDR likely play crucial roles in the wound healing of the pp uterine cervix. Studies to elucidate the potential mechanism underlying the actions of these molecules are ongoing. Funding: Office of Student Research, Appalachian State University.