OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK)1/2 and phosphorylated (p)-ERK1/2 in the pathogenesis of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: Anterior vaginal wall tissue was collected from women with SUI and control subjects. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed for p-ERK1/2. Primary vaginal fibroblast cultures were incubated in the presence or absence of PD98059 (an inhibitor of ERK kinase) and levels of collagen I and III mRNA and protein were examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Levels of p-ERK1/2 were significantly lower in vaginal wall tissue from patients with SUI (n = 10) compared with controls (n = 10). PD98059 treatment significantly reduced levels of collagen I and III mRNA and protein. CONCLUSIONS: Female SUI is associated with reduced levels of p-ERK1/2 compared with controls, and inhibition of the ERK1/2 signalling pathway inhibits collagen type I and III synthesis in vaginal wall fibroblasts.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK)1/2 and phosphorylated (p)-ERK1/2 in the pathogenesis of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: Anterior vaginal wall tissue was collected from women with SUI and control subjects. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed for p-ERK1/2. Primary vaginal fibroblast cultures were incubated in the presence or absence of PD98059 (an inhibitor of ERK kinase) and levels of collagen I and III mRNA and protein were examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Levels of p-ERK1/2 were significantly lower in vaginal wall tissue from patients with SUI (n = 10) compared with controls (n = 10). PD98059 treatment significantly reduced levels of collagen I and III mRNA and protein. CONCLUSIONS: Female SUI is associated with reduced levels of p-ERK1/2 compared with controls, and inhibition of the ERK1/2 signalling pathway inhibits collagen type I and III synthesis in vaginal wall fibroblasts.
Authors: Wilke M Post; Joanna Widomska; Hilde Grens; Marieke J H Coenen; Frank M J Martens; Dick A W Janssen; Joanna IntHout; Geert Poelmans; Egbert Oosterwijk; Kirsten B Kluivers Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2022-03-21 Impact factor: 5.923