RKIP is decreased in laboring myometrium and modulates inflammation-induced pro-labor mediators

Abstract

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-induced inflammation plays a central role in the terminal process of human labor and delivery. Our previous studies show that IL1B induces NF-κB signaling through extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK; official gene symbol MAPK1), whereas TNF induces NF-κB-driven transcription of pro-labor mediators via an MAPK1-independent mechanism. Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) negatively regulates inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB activation directly or indirectly by inhibiting MAPK1. The role of RKIP in the processes of human labor and delivery is not known. The present study was performed to investigate the expression of RKIP in laboring and non-laboring human m..