Meharry Medical College Researcher and Team Find Promise for Reducing Preterm Births
Research study shows that inhibiting the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase reduces risk of pre-term labor in rats

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Scientific Director of the Meharry Center for Women’s Health Research and a team of researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch have concluded that inhibiting the activity of the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) during pregnancy can reduce the incidence of pre-term births in rats.  It also appears to stop the cervix from expanding and stretching.  Findings were reported in a recent issue of the specialized journal Reproduction.

“These are important findings, because this study also provides for the first-time a urinary biomarker that may potentially help us predict whether a pregnant woman is at risk for pre-term labor or not,” said Dr. Ayman Al-Hendy, who is also a professor and vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Meharry Medical College.

Pre-term labor occurs when a pregnant woman delivers at less than 37 weeks of gestation.  The incidence of pre-term births has increased from 10 to 13% in the last ten years; more than 1 million pre-term births occur annually, placing a financial impact on the healthcare system between $7 and 8 billion dollars a year.

“Historically, there has not been an effective way to predict pre-term labor and providing effective treatment once it occurs has been even more challenging,” said Al-Hendy.

Pre-term labor is also a health disparities issue.  According to Al-Hendy, African American women are 3-4 times more likely to suffer from the condition.

“We do not know whether this is because of genetic predisposition, biological factors  or if it’s related to various social issues like diet and stress”

Prevention of human pre-term labor is still years away, however, Al-Hendy said he and his team are encouraged by the findings from this study whose results will prompt researchers to initiate clinical trials in humans.

The study is published in a recent issue of the specialized journal Reproduction, the official publication of the Society for Reproduction and Fertility.  The manuscript is titled, “Treatment with an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase activity reduces preterm birth and impedes cervical resistance to stretch in pregnant rats.” In addition to Al-Hendy, co-authors of the study include the following:  Melissa J. Wentz, Shao-Qing Shi, Leili Shi, Salama A. Salama, Hassan M. Harirah, Hala Fouad, Robert E. Garfield, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch.

About Meharry Medical College

Meharry Medical College is the nation’s largest private, independent historically black academic health center dedicated solely to educating minority and other health professionals. The College is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; emerging preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services; and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation’s health professions workforce. Diverse Issues in Higher Education’s ranking of institutions annually lists Meharry as a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees, and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences. To learn more about Meharry Medical College, visit www.mmc.edu.

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