[Expression of elastin, lysyl oxidase and elafin in the cardinal ligament of women with pelvic organ prolapse].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate expression of elastin, lysyl oxidase (LOX) and elafin in cardinal ligament of women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) so as to determine their contributions to POP.


METHODS
The cardinal ligament samples were obtained from 60 POP subjects and 60 non-POP control women undergoing hysterectomy. RT-PCR was used to verify the mRNA level of elastin, LOX and elafin. The protein concentration of the three genes was determined by western blotting technique, electrophoretic separation and quantification.


RESULTS
The premenopausal and postmenopausal POP groups demonstrated significantly decreased expressions of elastin in cardinal ligament both in mRNA and protein levels than control group (mRNA 0.42 +/- 0.22, 0.26 +/- 0.20 versus 0.79 +/- 0.30, 0.63 +/- 0.23; protein 0.44 +/- 0.32, 0.20 +/- 0.19 versus 0.89 +/- 0.27, 0.78 +/- 0.25; P < 0.05). There was an identical tendency in the expression of LOX (mRNA 0.37 +/- 0.18, 0.20 +/- 0.14 versus 0.65 +/- 0.22, 0.53 +/- 0.20; protein 0.45 +/- 0.27, 0.26 +/- 0.21 versus 0.85 +/- 0.39, 0.69 +/- 0.31; P < 0.05). In POP group, the mRNA and protein levels of elastin and LOX in postmenopausal patients were significantly lower than premenopausal patients (P < 0.05). Inversely, POP group demonstrated an increased expression of elafin in cardinal ligament both in mRNA and protein levels than corresponding control group (mRNA 1.33 +/- 0.35, 1.47 +/- 0.37 versus 0.62 +/- 0.25, 0.55 +/- 0.24; protein 0.85 +/- 0.30, 0.76 +/- 0.35 versus 0.21 +/- 0.15, 0.29 +/- 0.22; P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of elafin between premenopausal and postmenopausal POP groups either in mRNA or protein levels (P > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between elastin and LOX both in mRNA and protein levels in POP group(r = 0.9959, 0.9708; P < 0.05), but there was no correlation between elastin and elafin (r = -0.0402, -0.0365; P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the decreased expression of elastin and LOX and the increased expression of elafin in the cardinal ligaments may contribute to POP.
Zhang
Shi-Qian
SQ
Department of Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China. r370112@126.com
Zhang
Lin-Lin
LL
Yu
Hao
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053492:Elafin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004549:Elastin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008022:Ligaments / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D008249:Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
D053492:Elafin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004549:Elastin; D008249:Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase