title: Relaxin and gonadal steroid receptors in uterosacral ligaments of women with and without pelvic organ prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the expression of estrogen receptor isoforms alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ), progesterone receptor (PR), and relaxin receptor isoforms 1 and 2 (LGR7, LGR8) in uterosacral ligament (USL) tissue of women with pelvic organ prolapse and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue samples of USL from women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP) were subjected to immunohistochemistry against ERα, ERβ, PR, and LGR7 proteins. The respective mRNA expression as well as of LGR8 was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cellular distribution of the receptor proteins was different due to cell types, independent of POP: ERα and PR were found in smooth muscle cells, but not in endothelial cells, whereas ERβ was found in endothelial cells, but not in connective tissue. ERα, ERβ, PR, and LGR7 mRNAs could be detected in all patients of both groups. ERα mRNA expression was significantly and ERβ mRNA borderline significantly higher in USL of patients with POP: ERα: p < 0.001, ERβ: p = 0.057.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enhanced effects of estrogen via altered mRNA expression patterns of ERα and ERβ--but not those of progesterone--may exist in USL of patients affected by POP. A local effect of relaxin needs to be further clarified because of this first report of prevalent ligamental expression of LGR7.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Wolf
authors: W
authors: Dietrich
authors: Ksenia
authors: K
authors: Elenskaia
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Obermayr
authors: Reinhard
authors: R
authors: Horvat
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Mayerhofer
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Umek
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Zeillinger
authors: Engelbert
authors: E
authors: Hanzal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012065:Relaxin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012447:Sacrum; D014599:Uterus
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D012065:Relaxin