About

Friederike Luking Jayes is an Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology and also holds a position as an Assistant Professor in Pathology at Duke University. She is affiliated with the Reproductive Sciences division. Her professional role involves research and clinical work related to reproductive health, although specific details about her research focus, background, or key contributions are not provided on the page.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Computer Science
• Political Science
• Biology
• Internal medicine
• Chemistry
• Cancer research
• Urology
• Engineering ethics
• Gynecology
• Library science
• Engineering
• Pathology
• Biochemistry
• Cell biology
• Surgery

Selected publications

• Muscarinic receptor blockade with oxybutynin reduces spontaneous and induced uterine muscle contractions

  Pregnancy · 2025-01-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Objective The uterus and the bladder have striking physiologic and anatomic similarities. Anticholinergic medications are commonly used to treat “overactive bladder” by targeting M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors. The uterus also contains M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors; however, current management of preterm labor does not target these receptors. We assessed whether muscarinic blockade with oxybutynin reduces both spontaneous and oxytocin‐induced uterine muscle contractions. Study Design Longitudinal strips of uterine tissue from pregnant rats (17–19 days gestation) were mounted on an isometric test apparatus to directly measure uterine muscle contractions. The effect of cumulatively higher concentrations of oxybutynin (100 nM to 100 uM) on both spontaneous and on oxytocin‐induced (1 nM) uterine muscle contractility was tested. We measured both the area under the curve (AUC) and the frequency of the uterine muscle contractions compared to water vehicle control. Measurements are presented as a percentage of baseline. Two‐Way ANOVA with Dunnett's post hoc test was performed. Results Uterine muscle strips harvested from pregnant rats consistently showed spontaneous muscle contractions. Oxybutynin resulted in a statistically significant decrease in both spontaneous uterine muscle strength (AUC) and contraction frequency compared to vehicle controls at concentrations ≥10 µM. Oxytocin‐induced uterine muscle contractions were also affected by oxybutynin. At concentrations ≥10 µM, uterine muscle strength (AUC) was reduced ( p < 0.01), but no difference was observed in contraction frequency compared to controls. Conclusions Oxybutynin significantly reduces spontaneous uterine muscle contraction strength (AUC) and contraction frequency in our animal ex vivo model. It reduces oxytocin‐induced uterine muscle contraction strength (AUC) but not contraction frequency. Antimuscarinic agents warrant future clinical investigation and may represent a novel treatment of preterm labor and “overactive uterus.”

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Multiple hour antifibrotic drug release enabled by a thermosensitive quadpolymer

  International Journal of Pharmaceutics · 2024-12-17 · 1 citations

  article1st author
  PublisherDOI

• Facilitated Peer Group Mentoring for Underrepresented Biomedical Researchers: Facilitators’ Experiences and Implications for Dissemination of a Curriculum

  The Chronicle of Mentoring & Coaching · 2024-06-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Peer group mentoring facilitated by senior faculty represents an effective approach. However, for underrepresented biomedical researchers, access to senior faculty from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups is limited. We explored motivations, benefits, and challenges for facilitators enrolled to deploy an intervention in the context of a randomized controlled trial that tested two peer group mentoring strategies for underrepresented early career researchers. Peer group sessions were co-facilitated by two senior underrepresented faculty. Thirty-six faculty were recruited as facilitators over four years. The facilitators' primary motivation was advancing the diversity of the workforce, the primary benefit was satisfaction from helping underrepresented researchers, and the primary challenge was time. Understanding motivations, benefits, and challenges of facilitators informs efforts in recruiting and retaining facilitators and disseminating this curriculum and others like it, to the broader community.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Extracellular matrix and Hippo signaling as therapeutic targets of antifibrotic compounds for uterine fibroids

  Clinical and Translational Medicine · 2021 · 51 citations

  • Cancer research
  • Chemistry
  • Medicine

  BACKGROUND: Uterine fibroids are highly prevalent, collagen-rich, mechanically stiff, fibrotic tumors for which new therapeutic options are needed. Increased extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness activates mechanical signaling and Hippo/YAP promoting fibroid growth, but no prior studies have tested either as a therapeutic target. We tested the hypothesis that injection of a purified form of collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) that selectively digests type I and type III collagens would alter ECM stiffness, Hippo signaling, and selectively reduce fibroid cell growth. We also used two FDA-approved drugs, verteporfin and nintedanib, to elucidate the role of Hippo/YAP signaling in uterine fibroid and myometrial cells. METHODS: The clinical trial was registered (NCT02889848). Stiffness of samples was measured by rheometry. Protein expression in surgical samples was analyzed via immunofluorescence. Protein and gene expression in uterine fibroid or myometrial cell lines were measured by real time PCR and western blot, and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: ) into fibroids resulted in a 46% reduction in stiffness in injected fibroids compared to controls after 60 days. Levels of the cell proliferation marker proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were decreased in fibroids 60 days after injection at high doses of CCH. Key Hippo signaling factors, specifically the transcriptionally inactive phosphorylated YAP (p-YAP), was increased at high CCH doses, supporting the role of YAP in fibroid growth. Furthermore, inhibition of YAP via verteporfin (YAP inhibitor) decreased cell proliferation, gene and protein expression of key factors promoting fibrosis and mechanotransduction in fibroid cells. Additionally, the anti-fibrotic drug, nintedanib, inhibited YAP and showed anti-fibrotic effects. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report that in vivo injection of collagenase into uterine fibroids led to a reduction in Hippo/YAP signaling and crucial genes and pathways involved in fibroid growth. These results indicate that targeting ECM stiffness and Hippo signaling might be an effective strategy for uterine fibroids.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Phase I Clinical Trial to Assess Safety and Tolerability of Injectable Collagenase in Women with Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids

  Reproductive Sciences · 2021 · 16 citations

  • Medicine
  • Urology
  • Internal medicine

  Uterine fibroids feature excessive deposition of types I and III collagen. Previous ex vivo studies showed an FDA-approved collagenase (EN3835)-digested types I and III collagen fibers in fibroid tissues; however, collagenase had not been evaluated in vivo for effects on uterine fibroids. The objective was to assess the safety and tolerability of collagenase injection directly into uterine fibroids. This was a prospective, open label, dose escalation study. The study participants were fifteen women aged 35-50 years with symptomatic uterine fibroids planning to undergo hysterectomy. Three subjects received saline and methylene blue, three subjects received a fixed dose of EN3835, and 9 subjects received stepped, increasing dosages of EN3835, all by transvaginal, ultrasound-guided injections. Primary outcome measures were safety and tolerability of the injection and change in collagen content between treated and control tissues. There were no significant adverse events following injection of EN3835 into uterine fibroids. Masson's trichrome stains revealed a 39% reduction in collagen content in treated samples compared to controls (p <0.05). Second harmonic generation (SHG) analysis showed treated samples to have a 21% reduction in density of collagen compared to controls. Picrosirius-stained collagenase-treated fibroids showed collagen fibers to be shorter and less dense compared to controls. Subjects reported a decrease in fibroid-related pain on the McGill Pain Questionnaire after study drug injection in Group 2 at both 4-8 days and 60-90 days post-injection. The findings indicated that injection of collagenase was safe and well tolerated. These results support further clinical investigation of collagenase as a minimally invasive treatment of uterine fibroids. NCT0289848.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Using rheology to quantify the effects of localized collagenase treatments on uterine fibroid digestion

  Acta Biomaterialia · 2021-08-08 · 9 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• COLLAGENASE -TREATED UTERINE FIBROIDS SHOW REDUCTION OF TISSUE STIFFNESS AND CELL PROLIFERATION, AND INDUCTION OF CELL DEATH THROUGH AUTOPHAGY AND NECROPTOSIS, AND ALTERATION OF HIPPO SIGNALING

  Fertility and Sterility · 2020-09-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Summary of the proceedings of the Basic Science of Uterine Fibroids meeting: new developments (February 28, 2020)

  F&S Science · 2020 · 12 citations

  • Political Science
  • Computer Science
  • Medicine

  Scientists from multiple basic disciplines and an international group of physician-scientists from the field of obstetrics and gynecology presented recent studies and discussed new and evolving theories of uterine fibroid etiology, growth and development at The Basic Science of the Uterine Fibroids meeting, sponsored by the Campion Fund and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The purpose was to share up-to date knowledge and to stimulate new concepts regarding the basic molecular biology and pathophysiology of uterine fibroids, and to promote future collaborations. The meeting was held at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in North Carolina on February 28, 2020. Speakers reviewed recent advances in cellular and molecular processes that contribute to fibroid growth and new opportunities for treatment. At the conclusion of the conference, attendees identified important new directions for future research.

  PublisherDOI

• Evaluation of Host Immune Cellular and Extracellular Matrix Responses to Prolapse Mesh With and Without Tension in a Rat Model

  Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery · 2020-09-09 · 3 citations

  articleCorresponding

  OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether vaginal host immune cellular and extracellular matrix responses are altered in a rat sacrocolpopexy model when lightweight polypropylene mesh is attached on tension versus without tension. METHODS: We performed hysterectomy and ovariectomy in 32 Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were assigned to 4 groups (n = 8/group): (1) controls with sham operation only (control), (2) mesh sutured only on the vagina (vaginal mesh), (3) sacrocolpopexy without tension, and (4) sacrocolpopexy with tension. Ninety days later, we excised vagina-mesh complexes. A histomorphologic scoring system of hematoxylin/eosin and Masson trichrome stained slides was used to assess host inflammatory responses. The cellular inflammatory response was further quantified using (1) identification of M1 and M2 macrophage subsets and (2) quantification of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The extracellular matrix response was evaluated by measuring (1) matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels and (2) type I/III collagen. RESULTS: Histomorphological tissue responses were greater in all groups with mesh compared with sham controls. Both sacrocolpopexy groups had similar scores, but each group scored significantly higher than the vaginal mesh group. Among the 4 groups, there were no statistically significant differences in M1 or M2 macrophage subsets, proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines, or extracellular matrix remodeling responses. CONCLUSIONS: Attachment of prolapse mesh resulted in an increased histologic inflammatory response independent of tension. Other markers of cellular inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling showed no differences among experimental groups. Tension on lightweight polypropylene mesh did not significantly alter the host response in this rat sacrocolpopexy model.

  PublisherDOI

• Polycarbonate Urethane Mesh: A New Material for Pelvic Reconstruction

  Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery · 2020-10-23 · 6 citations

  articleCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: Polycarbonate urethane (PCU) is a new biomaterial, and its mechanical properties can be tailored to match that of vaginal tissue. We aimed to determine whether vaginal host immune and extracellular matrix responses differ after PCU versus lightweight polypropylene (PP) mesh implantation. METHODS: Hysterectomy and ovariectomy were performed on 24 Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were divided into 3 groups: (1) PCU vaginal mesh, (2) PP vaginal mesh, and (3) sham controls. Vagina-mesh complexes or vaginas (controls) were excised 90 days after surgery. We quantified responses by comparing: (1) histomorphologic scoring of hematoxylin and eosin- and Masson trichrome-stained slides, (2) macrophage subsets (immunolabeling), (3) pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (Luminex panel), (4) matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and (5) type I/III collagen using picrosirius red staining. RESULTS: There was no difference in histomorphologic score between PCU and PP (P = 0.211). Although the histomorphologic response was low surrounding all mesh fibers, groups with PCU and PP mesh had a higher histomorphologic score than the control group (P < 0.005 and P < 0.002, respectively). There were no differences between groups in terms of macrophage subsets, pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, MMP-2 and MMP-9, or collagen ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Polycarbonate urethane, an elastomer with material properties similar to those of vaginal tissue, elicits minimal host inflammatory responses in a rat model. Because its implantation does not elicit more inflammation than currently used lightweight PP, using PCU for prolapse mesh warrants further investigation with larger animal models.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant F32HD008284

  NIH · $36k

Frequent coauthors

• Kenneth S. Korach

  National Institutes of Health

  26 shared

• Phyllis C. Leppert

  Duke University

  25 shared

• Karina F. Rodriguez

  19 shared

• Liping Feng

  Duke University

  15 shared

• Claudia Aguirre

  10 shared

• Johannes D. Veldhuis

  Mayo Clinic in Florida

  10 shared

• Katherine A. Burns

  University of Cincinnati Medical Center

  10 shared

• Mariana M. Yates

  The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

  10 shared