Understanding how NF-kappaB Regulates Expression and Repression of the Galphas GTP-binding Protein in the Myometrium

科学家们需要了解哪些分子被用来确保子宫在怀孕期间保持放松，以及当分娩开始时，它们是如何被修改的。一种名为G-α-S的重要蛋白质在个体肌肉细胞中被发现，称为肌细胞。在怀孕期间，G-α-S在肌细胞外的信号和肌细胞内阻止其收缩的分子链之间起着分子中继的作用。重要的是，怀孕期间子宫肌层中的G-α-S水平非常高。而在活跃期妇女子宫肌层中，G-α-S分子的数量却大大减少，提示子宫肌层的肌细胞有能力抑制G-α-S的合成。我们想知道是什么原因导致G-α-S合成的这种上升和下降。我们还知道，身体的炎症反应可以关闭G-α-S的产生。因此，我们想要研究植物来源的抗炎化学物质是否可以抑制G-α-S的这种关闭，进而可能防止子宫过早收缩。我们将通过观察当炎症分子存在时，这些抗炎化学物质是否能阻止人类子宫肌层的小块收缩来测试这一点。

Scientists need to understand which molecules are used to ensure the uterus is programmed to stay relaxed throughout pregnancy and how they are modified when labour is triggered.One important protein, called G-alpha-s, is found on individual muscle cells called myocytes. G-alpha-s serves as a molecular relay between the signals outside the myocyte and the chain of molecules within it that stop it contracting during pregnancy.Importantly, the level of G-alpha-s in the muscle of the uterus, the myometrium, as a whole is very high during pregnancy. In myometrium from women in active labour, however, the number of G-alpha-s molecules is greatly reduced suggesting that the myocytes of the myometrium have the ability to shut down G-alpha-s production at term.We wish to know what causes this rise and fall in G-alpha-s synthesis. We also know that the bodily inflammatory response can shut down G-alpha-s production. Consequently, we would like to examine whether plant-derived anti-inflammatory chemicals can inhibit this shut-down of G-alpha-s, which in turn may then prevent premature uterine contractions. We will test this by seeing if these anti-inflammatory chemicals can stop small pieces of human myometrium from contracting when inflammatory molecules are present.