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Basic Science

Poster Session 3

(888) Vaginal progesterone effects at the endocervical epithelium in cell culture and preterm birth mouse model

Wednesday, February 14, 2024
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM  
Location: Prince George's Exhibit Hall CDE, Lower Atrium Level

    Primary & Presenting Author(s)

  • Soo Ran Choi, MD, PhD

    Inha University Hospital
    Incheon, Republic of Korea

    • Coauthor(s)

  • SP

    Suyeon Park, MD

    Inha university hospital
    Jung-gu, Inch'on-jikhalsi, Republic of Korea

Objective: The vaginal progesterone has used to decrease preterm birth in women with short cervical length. The mechanism of progesterone on short cervix is not understood clearly. In this study, we investigated the effects of vaginal progesterone at the uterine endocervical epithelium in cell culture and preterm birth mouse model.

Study Design: First, endocervical epithelial cell culture from human (hysterectomy due to postpartum hemorrhage) was conducted and treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and progesterone. Second, the C57BL/6 mice (n = 7/group) were used. On days 13 -15 of gestation, mice received intrauterine injections of either LPS or sterile medium. Vaginal progesterone supply into upper vagina through vaginal plug. Four groups of mice were experimented, the controlled group, vaginal progesterone group, LPS group, and LPS with vaginal progesterone group. The expressions of progesterone receptor membrane component-1 (PGRMC1), secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), mucin-1, and phosphate nuclear factor-kB (pNF-kB) were determined by WB and IHC.  

Results: First, in cell culture, the expression levels of PGRMC1, SLPI, and mucin-1 were decreased after LPS treatment, but pNF-kB level was increased. After LPS pretreat and progesterone treat, PGRMC1 and SLPI levels were decreased and lower than that after progesterone treat, but mucin-1 level was increased. Second, in group of LPS treat, the expression of pNF-kB was increased and mucin-1 and SLPI and PGRMC1 expressions were decreased. In group of vaginal progesterone, pNF-kB expression was decreased and PGRMC1 expression was increased. In LPS with vaginal progesterone group, compare to LPS group, the expressions of PGRMC1, SLPI, and mucin-1 were increased, and pNF-kB expression was decreased.


Conclusion: Vaginal progesterone showed anti-inflammatory effects at the endocervical epithelium by increased expression of mucin-1, SLPI, and PGRMC1 and decreased expression of pNF-kB.