[The oxytocin signal cascade during premature labor]

Since 30 years the rate of preterm deliveries of 7% remained unchanged. This is due to a lack of understanding of the underlying pathomechanisms of preterm labor. Oxytocin (OT) as well as its receptor (OTR) play a key role in the process of (preterm) labor as part of a paracrine system that regulates myometrial contractility. Binding of OT to its corresponding receptor, OTR, leads to activation of actin-myosin interactions and therewith myometrial contractions as well as production of intrauterine prostaglandins (PGE(2), PGF(2 alpha)) mainly in decidua and myometrium. Oxytocin expression increases significantly at time of parturition, as does the expression of its receptor. Both can be influenced by diverse cellular substrates. The focus of our research group is based on the exploration of the influence of cytokines on OTR signaling.