The expression of thioredoxin mRNA is increased in the human cervix during pregnancy

The classic function for thioredoxin is to act as a hydrogen donor for the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase, which is essential for DNA synthesis. In addition, thioredoxin participates in the regulation of different metabolic processes via thiol redox control. These kind of processes involve changes in the activity of different enzymes, receptors or transcription factors via dithiol/disulphide interchange reactions. Thioredoxin is present in the human decidua and trophoblasts. This study was performed to investigate whether thioredoxin mRNA is present in the human cervix, and differently expressed during pregnancy as compared with the non-pregnant state. Cervical biopsies and serum samples were obtained from 28 late pregnant, 41 post-partum and 15 non-pregnant menstruating women. The tissues were analysed for thioredoxin mRNA content using a solution hybridization technique. The thioredoxin mRNA level increased 3-fold at late pregnancy in comparison with the non-pregnant state. No further increase was seen immediately after parturition, either after spontaneous delivery or after pharmacological induction. There was a positive correlation between the cervical thioredoxin mRNA level and the serum oestradiol concentration in the non-pregnant group. We suggest that thioredoxin mRNA in the human cervix is regulated, at least partly, by oestradiol.