Cervicovaginal fluid proteomic analysis of pregnant women after the excisional surgery for cervical lesions to elucidate the cervical mechanism for the maintenance of pregnancy

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22686
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 56:Surgery related to the biological and sensory functions and related fields
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University (2021); Kyoto University (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: Kondoh Eiji 熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部(医), 教授 (10544950)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 最上 晴太 京都大学, 医学研究科, 講師 (40378766) ; 伊藤 慎二 京都大学, 医学研究科, 特定助教 (50362512) ; 千草 義継 京都大学, 医学研究科, 助教 (80779158)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 妊娠 / ムチン / 腟分泌物 / 円錐切除

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A total of 114 cervicovaginal fluid at the second trimester were collected from pregnant women after the excisional surgery for cervical lesions. Among these 114 sample, all 13 women who had a spontaneous preterm birth were selected for cases, and 13 controls were selected from the other women who delivered at term. Proteome compositions of cervicovaginal fluid from these two groups were quantified and compared. A total of 480 proteins were commonly quantified in two groups. The expression of mucin5B was decreased in cervicovaginal fluid from case group. Furthermore, there was significant correlation between the expression of mucin5B of cervicovaginal fluid at the second trimester and gestational age at delivery. This study showed that decreased Mucin5B secretion at the cervix may be associated with preterm birth.

Free Research Field

周産期医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

早産は全分娩の10%に発症し、新生児死亡や脳性麻痺の原因の大部分を占める。しかし妊娠維持機構については未だ未解明な点が多く、早産の予知・予防法の開発は喫緊の課題である。 本研究では、子宮頸部でのMucin5B分泌低下が早産と関連する可能性を示した。本研究で抽出したMucin5Bは早産予測マーカーや早産予防目的の補充療法の開発に直結する。