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整个怀孕期间保持放松，以及当分娩被触发时它们是如何被修改的。一种重要的蛋白质，称为G-α-s，存在于称为肌细胞的个体肌肉细胞中。G-α-s是肌细胞外信号和肌细胞内分子链之间的分子中继，在怀孕期间阻止其收缩。重要的是，怀孕期间子宫肌肉（子宫肌层）中的G-α-s水平整体上非常高。然而，在活跃分娩妇女的子宫肌层中，G-α-s分子的数量大大减少，这表明子宫肌层的肌细胞有能力在足月时关闭G-α-s的产生。我们希望知道是什么导致G-α-s合成的上升和下降。我们还知道，身体的炎症反应可以关闭G-α-s的生产。因此，我们想研究植物源性抗炎化学物质是否可以抑制G-α-s的关闭，从而防止子宫过早收缩。我们将通过观察这些抗炎化学物质是否可以阻止炎症分子存在时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.