Differences in mRNA and protein expression of small proteoglycans in vaginal wall tissue from women with and without stress urinary incontinence.
BACKGROUND
To investigate changes in mRNA and protein levels of biglycan (BGN), decorin (DCN) and fibromodulin (FMOD) in vaginal wall tissue from women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) compared to menstrual-cycle matched continent women.


METHODS
We determined mRNA expressions of BGN, DCN and FMOD by quantitative real-time PCR. They were localized in vaginal wall tissue by immunohistochemistry. We performed western blot analysis to examine protein expression.


RESULTS
BGN, DCN and FMOD co-localized with collagen and elastin in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of vaginal wall tissue from both groups. The mRNA expression of FMOD was significantly lower in cases versus controls in the proliferative phase (P = 0.03). DCN mRNA expression in cases was higher in the proliferative (P = 0.05) and secretory phases (P = 0.02) versus controls. BGN mRNA expression showed no significant differences in either phase. Protein expression of FMOD in cases was lower in the proliferative phase versus controls (six out of nine pairs), whereas DCN and BGN protein expression in the secretory phase in cases was higher (seven out of nine pairs).


CONCLUSIONS
BGN, DCN and FMOD expressions in vaginal wall tissue differ in women with SUI and are hormonally modulated. Differences in small proteoglycans may contribute to the altered pelvic floor connective tissues found in these women.
Wen
Y
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Zhao
Y Y
YY
Li
S
S
Polan
M L
ML
Chen
B H
BH
D000328:Adult; D058578:Biglycan; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000032:analysis; D058575:Decorin; D004549:Elastin / Q000032:analysis; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D000071235:Fibromodulin; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000378:metabolism*; D014621:Vagina / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
C546884:BGN protein, human; D058578:Biglycan; D024042:Collagen Type I; C546878:DCN protein, human; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C000604330:FMOD protein, human; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000071235:Fibromodulin; D004549:Elastin