title: Differential expression of smooth muscle regulatory proteins in the uterosacral ligaments of women with uterine prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare smooth muscle regulatory protein expression in the uterosacral ligament (USL) of women with and without uterine prolapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  USLs ligament were sampled in women with (n = 9) or without (n = 9) uterine prolapse. Caldesmon, smooth muscle actin (SMA), myosin heavy chain, and zinc finger protein messenger RNA expression was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis were used to determine protein expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caldesmon messenger RNA expression and the ratio of caldesmon-SMA messenger RNA expression was significantly increased in the USL from women with uterine prolapse compared with women without prolapse (caldesmon mean +/- standard deviation messenger RNA, 0.81 +/- 0.46 vs 0.39 +/- 0.16; P = .01 and caldesmon-SMA messenger RNA ratio, mean +/- standard deviation, 0.11 +/- 0.04 vs 0.07 +/- 0.02; P = .01). In addition, the ratio of caldesmon-SMA staining was significantly increased in women with uterine prolapse compared with women without prolapse (mean +/- standard deviation, 0.44 +/- 0.28 vs 0.28 +/- 0.16; P = .03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uterine prolapse is associated with an increased ratio of caldesmon-SMA actin expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Takacs
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gualtieri
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nassiri
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Candiotti
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fornoni
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Medina
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000290:Adnexa Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008022:Ligaments / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C404507:ZNF107 protein, human; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains