Identification of the major proteoglycans from human myometrium.
BACKGROUND
During pregnancy and parturition a remodeling within the extracellular matrix of the cervix and the corpus uteri occurs, which is of fundamental importance to a normal labor. The aim of this study is to identify the major proteoglycans in corpus uteri of non-pregnant subjects.


METHODS
From human uterine tissue proteoglycans were extracted and purified using CsCl-density gradient centrifugation, gel and ion-exchange chromatography. The proteoglycans were quantified and identified by Alcian Blue before and after ABC-digestion and by Western blotting.


RESULTS
The results showed that the corpus uteri contains a substantial amount of proteoglycans, 1.825 microg/mg wet weight. Decorin is dominating, constituting 63% of the total amount of proteoglycans. Heparan sulphate proteoglycans accounted for 20% and biglycan for 16%. Less than 1% consisted of the large proteoglycan versican.


CONCLUSIONS
Further investigations must be performed to provide more information of the biological role of the proteoglycans in the uterus, especially during labor, by the presence of heparan sulphate proteoglycans and the minute presence of versican which indicate that the proteoglycan composition and organization is different to that of the cervix.
Hjelm
A
A
Department of Woman and Child Health, Division for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institute/Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Ekman-Ordeberg
G
G
Barchan
K
K
Malmström
A
A
D000423:Alcian Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology
D004396:Coloring Agents; D011509:Proteoglycans; D000423:Alcian Blue