Effect of relaxin on TGF-beta1 expression in cultured vaginal fibroblasts from women with stress urinary incontinence

Reprod Sci. 2008 Apr;15(3):312-20. doi: 10.1177/1933719108315299.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to compare relaxin's effect on transforming growth factor (TGF)- beta1 and latent TGF-beta1-binding protein (LTBP-1) in vaginal fibroblasts from women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) to continent women (controls) in both phases of the menstrual cycle. Fibroblasts were treated with relaxin. TGF-beta1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. LTBP-1 expression was evaluated by Western blot. In the proliferative phase, total TGF-beta1 level in the supernatant, cells, and extracellular matrix (ECM) of SUI fibroblasts decreased with increasing relaxin concentration (P < .05). Active TGF-beta1 levels increased at a low concentration of relaxin (P < .05) in the supernatant but decreased in the ECM of SUI fibroblasts at high concentration (P < .05). In the secretory phase, total TGF-beta1 levels decreased with relaxin treatment (P < .05) in the supernatant, cells and ECM of both women with SUI and controls. Relaxin decreased the levels of total and active TGF-beta1 in the ECM isolated from SUI vaginal fibroblasts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Down-Regulation
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • Humans
  • Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Menstrual Cycle / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Relaxin / metabolism*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism*
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress / metabolism*
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress / pathology
  • Vagina / metabolism*
  • Vagina / pathology

Substances

  • LTBP1 protein, human
  • Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Relaxin