title: Protein expression of estrogen receptors α and β and aromatase in myometrium and uterine leiomyoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leiomyomas are the most common tumors of the female reproductive tract and a major public health problem. The mechanism of tumorigenesis is unknown, but evidence suggests that estrogens regulate cell proliferation and myoma growth. This effect might be due to different amounts of estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) in normal and myoma tissues and overexpression of aromatase P450 in myomas.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess protein expression of ERs and aromatase in leiomyomas and normal adjacent myometrium of premenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were collected from 12 premenopausal women admitted for abdominal hysterectomy due to fibroids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The protein expression of ERα, ERβ and aromatase was similar in leiomyoma and normal myometrium (p = 0.239, p = 0.695 and p = 0.203, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this analysis of 12 matched leiomyoma and myometrial samples, the data do not support the theory that overexpression ERα, ERβ and aromatase in uterine leiomyomas compared to adjacent myometrium are the cause of tumor growth. The estrogens may exert their growth-stimulatory effects on leiomyomas intermediated by other elements, such as cytokines and growth or apoptosis factors. The effect of estrogen on the growth and development of fibroids is complex and far from being completely understood.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina: Ciências Médicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anelise Olmos
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Grings
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lora
authors.forename: Gustavo Dias
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Ilma Simoni
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Brum
authors.forename: Helena von Eye
authors.initials: Hv
authors.lastname: Corleta
authors.forename: Edison
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Capp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D017697:Premenopause; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D001141:Aromatase