Regulation of CXCL 1 chemokine and CSF 3 cytokine levels in myometrial cells by the MAFF transcription factor

Cytokines play key roles in a variety of reproductive processes including normal parturition as well as preterm birth. Our previous data have shown that MAFF , a member of the MAF family of bZIP transcription factors, is rapidly induced by pro‐inflammatory cytokines in PHM 1‐31 myometrial cells. We performed loss‐of‐function studies in PHM 1‐31 cells to identify MAFF dependent genes. We showed that knockdown of MAFF significantly decreased CXCL 1 chemokine and CSF 3 cytokine transcript and protein levels. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation analyzes, we confirmed CXCL 1 and CSF 3 genes as direct MAFF targets. We also demonstrated that MAFF function in PHM 1‐31 myometrial cells is able to control cytokine and matrix metalloproteinase gene expression in THP ‐1 monocytic cells in a paracrine fashion. Our studies provide valuable insights into the MAFF dependent transcriptional network governing myometrial cell function. The data suggest a role of MAFF in parturition and/or infection‐induced preterm labour through modulation of inflammatory processes in the microenvironment.