title: K-Ras 4A Transcript variant is up-regulated in eutopic endometrium of endometriosis patients during proliferative phase of menstrual cycle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  K-Ras transcripts comprise two main isoforms: K-Ras 4A and K-Ras 4B, which act differently. The expression of both isoforms was reported in many human tissues. However, K-Ras 4B was the major expressed transcript variant. An increased expression of K-Ras 4B mRNA was reported in eutopic endometrium of endometriosis patients. In this way, we aimed to study the expression of K-Ras 4A transcript in eutopic endometrium related to endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Employing exon4-flanking primers, K-Ras isoforms were simultaneously amplified in a RT-PCR reaction. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed using GAPDH as an internal control. K-Ras 4A transcript expression in eutopic endometrium was analyzed by ΔΔC T method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified existence of both of K-Ras 4A and K-Ras 4B in eutopic endometrium of patients and controls. Quantitative real-time analysis demonstrated that K-Ras 4A expression was 2.7-fold higher in endometriosis than non-endometriosis eutopic samples. Interestingly, this overexpression mainly occurs through the proliferative phase of menstrual cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings bring to light the eminent role of K-Ras 4A in endometriosis. This splice variant which is known for promoting apoptosis could be an effective factor in balance between proliferation and death of eutopic endometrial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahrabi-Farahani
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahbazi
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahdian
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amini-Moghaddam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins