A new hypothesis about the origin of uterine fibroids based on gene expression profiling with microarrays.
This article will discuss some recent insights based on our microarray studies that have emphasized the role the extracellular matrix, transforming growth factor beta, and collagen structure in fibroid formation. These studies led to appreciation of molecular similarities between fibroids and keloids. Collectively, these observations suggest a model of fibroid development based on an abnormal response to tissue repair, resulting in disordered healing and formation of an altered extracellular matrix.
Leppert
Phyllis C
PC
Reproductive Biology and Medicine Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Catherino
William H
WH
Segars
James H
JH
D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000235:genetics; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology