title: Human myometrium and leiomyomas express gonadotropin-releasing hormone 2 and gonadotropin-releasing hormone 2 receptor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the presence or absence of a second form of GnRH (GnRH2) and corresponding receptor (GnRHR2) in human uterine myometrium and leiomyomata.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of human leiomyoma and patient-matched myometrium of differential mRNA and protein expression of GnRH2 and GnRHR2.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight women undergoing medically indicated hysterectomy for symptomatic fibroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microarray analysis, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of mRNA and protein in leiomyoma and patient-matched myometrium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microarray analysis demonstrated expression, and we confirmed the findings by RT-PCR. Real-time RT-PCR demonstrated equivalent expression of the genes in leiomyoma compared with patient-matched myometrium (0.99-fold for GnRH2 and 1.28-fold for GnRHR2). Immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression of GnRH2 protein in both leiomyoma and myometrium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A second form of GnRH and corresponding receptor exists in the fibroid and myometrium. We speculate that an autocrine loop exists. Our findings provide further evidence that GnRH agonists may interact directly with GnRH receptors present in uterine fibroids.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Biology and Medicine Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Minnie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Catherino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D011966:Receptors, LHRH / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C427484:GNRHR2 protein, human; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011966:Receptors, LHRH; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; C047717:LHRH, His(5)-Trp(7)-Tyr(8)-