title: The role of the alcohol dehydrogenase-1 (ADH1) gene in the pathomechanism of uterine leiomyoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe alterations of gene expression patterns of the alcohol dehydrogenase-1 (ADH1) gene in human leiomyoma tissue. We correlated changes in ADH1 gene activity with several clinical and demographic variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared gene expression patterns of ADH1 in leiomyoma tissue samples obtained from 101 hysterectomy cases to 110 cases of hysterectomy performed for non-oncological indications. Gene expression was determined by standard PCR technique. Clinical and epidemiological data were extracted from the computerized database of the 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Semmelweis University and from patient questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age in the leiomyoma group was significantly lower than in the control group (47.5 ± 12.1 vs. 54.7 ± 10.2 years). The incidence of uterine leiomyoma was highest (48%) in the 41-50 year age group. In the obstetric history, cumulative gestational age in the leiomyoma group was significantly lower (105.1 ± 8.2 weeks) than in the control group (127.2 ± 9.1 weeks) and cumulative lactation length was also significantly shorter (2.4 ± 1.2 months vs. 5.1 ± 2.2 months). Surgical treatment of the fibroid was myomectomy in 39.6% of the cases and hysterectomy in 60.4%. The ADH1 gene was significantly underexpressed in the leiomyoma group compared to the control group. There was no significant association between ADH1 gene expression and family history. Within the leiomyoma group, there was no significant difference in ADH1 gene expression between subgroups of cases with different number of fibroid tumors found in the hysterectomy sample, but individual tumor number did correlate with the degree of underexpression of the ADH1 gene. There was no significant association between ADH1 gene expression and cumulative history of lactation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Underexpression of the ADH1 gene, which influences the transformation of the extracellular matrix, plays a probable role in the etiology of uterine fibroid. Although significant differences in ADH1 gene activity were not seen, a negative correlation between tumor number and degree of ADH1 underexpression was found. Neither family history nor cumulative lactation length was a significant predictor of uterine leiomyoma.
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis University, First Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Csatlós
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rigó
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laky
authors.forename: Réka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brubel
authors.forename: Gábor József
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Joó
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase
keywords: ADH1 gene; Extracellular matrix; Retinol metabolism; Uterine fibroid; Uterine leiomyoma