Mitochondrial DNA content and mass increase in progression from normal to hyperplastic to cancer endometrium.
BACKGROUND
An increase in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and mitochondrial biogenesis associated with the activation of PGC-1α signalling pathway was previously reported in type I endometrial cancer. The aim of this study has been to evaluate if mtDNA content and the citrate synthase (CS) activity, an enzyme marker of mitochondrial mass, increase in progression from control endometrium to hyperplasia to type I endometrial carcinoma.


RESULTS
Given that no statistically significant change in mtDNA content and CS activity in endometrium taken from different phases of the menstrual cycle or in menopause was found, these samples were used as control. Our research shows, for the first time, that mtDNA content and citrate synthase activity increase in hyperplastic endometrium compared to control tissues, even if their levels remain lower compared to cancer tissue. In particular, mtDNA content increases seem to precede increases in CS activity. No statistically significant change in mtDNA content and in CS activity was found in relation to different histopathological conditions such as grade, myometrial invasion and stage.


CONCLUSIONS
MtDNA content and citrate synthase activity increases in pre-malignant lesions could be a potential molecular marker for progression from hyperplasia to carcinoma.
Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Bari, Via Orabona, Bari, 4-70126, Italy. a.cormio@biologia.uniba.it
Antonella
A
Cormio
Flora
F
Guerra
Gennaro
G
Cormio
Vito
V
Pesce
Flavio
F
Fracasso
Vera
V
Loizzi
Leonardo
L
Resta
Giuseppe
G
Putignano
Palmiro
P
Cantatore
Luigi Eustacchio
LE
Selvaggi
Maria Nicola
MN
Gadaleta
D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009929:Organ Size
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase