BACKGROUNDExperimental evidence indicates that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays a critical role in blastocyst implantation; however, little is known of the role of COX-2 in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA).

METHODSWe evaluated the expression level and potential signaling pathway of COX-2 in 30 cases of URSA who were excluded the abnormality of chromosomes, anatomy, endocrine, infectious, autoimmune diseases and in 30 normal pregnancies.

RESULTSThe mRNA and the protein expression level of COX-2 in the URSA group (-0.238 +/- 0.848, 0.368 +/- 0.089, respectively) were significantly lower than that in the control group (1.943 +/- 3.845, 1.046 +/- 0.108, respectively) (both, P < 0.01). The expression of prostaglandins PGF(2a), PGD(2), PGE(2), and PGI(2), in the URSA group ((2326.0 +/- 295.6) pg/ml, (2164.0 +/- 240.5) pg/ml, (238.7 +/- 26.4) pg/ml, (2337.0 +/- 263.0) pg/ml, respectively) were significantly lower than that in the control group ((3450.0 +/- 421.7) pg/ml, (3174.0 +/- 415.6) pg/ml, (323.5 +/- 43.8) pg/ml, (3623.0 +/- 460.4) pg/ml, respectively) (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression level of PPARbeta and RXRalpha (0.859 +/- 0.653, -0.172 +/- 0.752, respectively) in URSA group was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.554 +/- 1.735, 0.777 +/- 2.482, respectively) (both P< 0.05). The mRNA and protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) in the URSA group (2.010 +/- 1.522, 0.35 +/- 0.46) was significantly lower than that in the control group (4.569 +/- 2.430, 0.750 +/- 0.350) (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCOX-2 and the COX-2-derived PGI(2) signaling pathway possibly play an important role in successful embryo implantation, and their decreased expression may result in URSA. The decreased expression may influence the expression of VEGF-A which interferes with placental angiogenesis causing failure of embryo implantation, leading to spontaneous abortion.