Tissue differences but limited sex steroid responsiveness of c-fos and c-jun in human fibroids and myometrium.
Sex steroids influence the growth of mammalian uterine tissues and the proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun have been implicated in the cascade of cellular events induced by the cyclic influence of oestrogen and progesterone. To investigate the role of these proto-oncogenes for fibroid growth their mRNA expression was measured in myometrium and fibroids under different hormonal conditions, using a solution hybridization method. Fibroids and myometrium were collected at surgery from premenopausal, postmenopausal and pregnant women as well as women treated with a gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa; Goserelin). The phase of the menstrual cycle was determined in all the untreated, premenopausal, non-pregnant women. The mRNA expression of c-fos and c-jun in fibroids was significantly lower than in homologous myometrium. No significant differences in c-fos expression were observed in myometrium, or fibroids, due to menstrual cycle phase, GnRHa treatment, pregnancy or the menopause. The c-jun expression in myometrium from pregnant women without fibroid disease was significantly higher than the corresponding control myometrium from premenopausal, non-pregnant women. These results demonstrate a tissue difference in the expression of c-fos and c-jun between myometrium and fibroids.
Gustavsson
I
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, S-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden.
Englund
K
K
Faxén
M
M
Sjöblom
P
P
Lindblom
B
B
Blanck
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids / Q000097:blood
D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone