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- Title
Uterine Leiomyomas Express Myometrial Contractile-Associated Proteins Involved in Pregnancy-Related Hormone Signaling.
- Authors
Cesen-Cummings, Kimberley; Houston, Kevin D.; Copland, John A.; Moorman, Valerie J.; Walker, Cheryl Lyn; Davis, Barbara J.
- Abstract
Objective:We used an animal model to study uterine leiomyoma in the context of pregnancy-associated changes in gene expression and to determine how they might modulate tumor growth.Methods:Spontaneous tumors and normal myometrium were collected from Eker rats and compared with myometrial samples from pregnant animals. A leiomyoma-derived cell line was also used to assess pregnancy-related changes in gene expression and to determine the impact of signaling by the oxytocin receptor.Results:Eker rat leiomyomas expressed several pregnancy-related genes, including connexin 43, oxytocin receptor (OTR), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-1; however, the tumors did not express COX-2, which is expressed in the parturient myometrium. The leiomyoma-derived cell lines also expressed OTR, which responds to estrogen, binds to oxytocin, and exhibits a calcium flux when stimulated with oxytocin. The OTR signaling mediated by oxytocin inhibited estrogen-stimulated growth of leiomyoma cells.Conclusions:Leiomyoma cells expressed many genes of the parturient myometrium, including OTRs, but were deficient in COX-2 expression. Signaling via the OTR appears to inhibit estrogen-induced cell proliferation, suggesting that signaling by this receptor might help mediate the protective effect of pregnancy on this disease.
- Publication
Reproductive Sciences, 2003, Vol 10, Issue 1, p11
- ISSN
1933-7191
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/107155760301000104