Low copy number and high 4977 deletion of mitochondrial DNA in uterosacral ligaments are associated with pelvic organ prolapse progression.
OBJECTIVE
The pathophysiology of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is related to aging in the pelvic organ support, and mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the major contributors to aging. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between alternations of mitochondrial DNA and progression of POP.


METHODS
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied in the present study. Uterosacral ligaments (UL) were obtained from 45 POP patients and 38 myoma patients without POP. Chi-square test, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman correlation analysis were applied in the comparison between POP and non-POP patients.


RESULTS
The results revealed that significant depletion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and an increase in the incidence of 4977 deletion of mtDNA (mtDNA(4977)) in the UL tissue of POP patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The alternations of mtDNA may play an important role in the molecular pathogenesis and process of POP formation.
Sun
Mou-Jong
MJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
Cheng
Wen-Ling
WL
Wei
Yau-Huei
YH
Kuo
Chen-Ling
CL
Sun
Samuel
S
Tsai
Horng-Der
HD
Lin
Hui-Mei
HM
Liu
Chin-San
CS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018628:Gene Dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma; D008022:Ligaments / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009214:Myoma; D012447:Sacrum; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014599:Uterus
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial