Apelin is decreased with human preterm and term labor and regulates prolabor mediators in human primary amnion cells

Abstract

A critical role of proinflammatory mediators including cytokines, prostaglandins, and extracellular matrix remodeling enzymes in the processes of human labor and delivery, at term and preterm, has been demonstrated. In nongestational tissues, apelin plays an important role in a number of physiologic processes, including the regulation of inflammation. However, the role and regulation of apelin and the apelin receptor (APJ) in human gestational tissues are not known. The aims of this study were to determine the effect of (i) preterm and term labor on apelin and APJ expression in human gestational tissues and (ii) apelin small inte ering RNA (siRNA) knockdown in human primary amnion cells on p..