title: HOXA11 and MMP2 gene expression in uterosacral ligaments of women with pelvic organ prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common disorder that negatively impacts the quality of life in many women. Uterosacral ligaments (USLs) are supportive structures of the pelvic organs that are often attenuated in women with POP. The HOXA genes regulate the development of the uterosacral ligaments. We compared expression of HOXA11 and MMP2 in USLs of women with and without POP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective sequential cross sectional study was conducted in ZTB Women's Health Research and Education Hospital. We compared expression of HOXA11 and MMP2 in USLs of women with (n:18) and without (n: 15) POP. Total RNA was isolated from patient (n:18) and control (n:15) uterosacral ligament tissues with TriPure isolation reagent according to the manufacturer's instructions. Expression levels of HOXA11 and MMP2 were determined using semiquantitative RT-PCR in a Light Cycler 480 system. Real-time ready catalog assays, which are short FAM-labeled hydrolysis probes containing locked nucleic acid, were used for RT-PCR reactions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in patients' mean age, parity, body mass indexes, and menopausal status between two groups. Means of RNA expression of MMP2 were 1.27±0.6 and 0.75±0.4 in the POP group vs control group, respectively (p:0.007). Means of RNA expression of HOXA 11 were 2.57±2.4 and 1.94±1.4 in the POP group vs control group, respectively (p:0.376). The POP group was divided as mild and severe POP; there was no difference in HOXA11 and MMP2 RNA expression between groups (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there was no difference HOXA11 RNA expression in USLs with the POP group vs control, there was a significant difference MMP2 RNA expression in USLs with the POP group vs control. There are limited studies on this subject, and study results are contradictory. Further investigations with larger numbers of cases are needed to clarify this subject.
authors: Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Nafiye
authors: N
authors: Yılmaz
authors: Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Gülnur
authors: G
authors: Ozaksit
authors: Department of Clinical Genetics, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Yunus Kasım
authors: YK
authors: Terzi
authors: Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Saynur
authors: S
authors: Yılmaz
authors: Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Burcu
authors: B
authors: Budak
authors: Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Orhan
authors: O
authors: Aksakal
authors: Department of Clinical Genetics, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Feride İffet
authors: Fİ
authors: Sahin
keywords: HOXA11; MMP2; pelvic organ prolapse