Signaling Pathways Involved in Sphingosine Kinase Activation and Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Release in Rat Myometrium in Late Pregnancy: Role in the Induction of Cyclooxygenase 2

We investigated the regulation of the sphingosine kinase (SphK)/sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) axis and its role during pregnancy in the rat myometrium. SphK1 and SphK2 were coexpressed in myometrium during gestation. The levels and activity of SphK1/2 were modest at midgestation (d 12), increased at d 19 and progressively declined to low at postpartum. Similar patterns were observed for the phosphorylation of ERK and protein kinase C (PKC). Inhibition of PKC and ERK reduced SphK1/2 activity. In late pregnancy, levels of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) increased in parallel to SphK levels. Using a pharmacological approach, we demonstrated that in primary cultures of myometrial cells from d-19 pregnant rats, induction of COX2 was mediated by 4β-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and IL-1β through sequential activation of PKC, ERK1/2, and SphK1. S1P produced by SphK1 was released in the medium. Addition of S1P, IL-1β or 4β-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate enhanced COX2 levels via Gi protein. Interestingly, S1P was also released by myometrial tissues at late gestation. This event was dependent on PKC/ERK/SphK1. By contrast, in d-12 myometrial tissues, the release of S1P was markedly reduced in association with low levels of SphK1 and COX2. However, prolonged incubation of myometrium from midgestation led to the induction of COX2. This effect was blocked by SphK inhibitors, providing evidence of the close relationship between SphK activity and COX2 induction in rat myometrium. Overall, our findings provided insight into the physiological relevance of the SphK activation and S1P release in uterine smooth muscle during gestation.