title: Differential expression of estrogen receptor α and β isoforms in multiple and solitary leiomyomas.
abstract: Uterine leiomyomas are benign myometrial neoplasms that function as one of the common indications for hysterectomy. Clinical and biological evidences indicate that uterine leiomyomas are estrogen-dependent. Estrogen stimulates cell proliferation through binding to the estrogen receptor (ER), of which both subtypes α and β are present in leiomyomas. Clinically, leiomyomas may be singular or multiple, where the first one is rarely recurring if removed and the latter associated to a relatively young age or genetic predisposition. These markedly different clinical phenotypes indicate that there may different mechanism causing a similar smooth muscle response. To investigate the relative expression of ERα and ERβ in multiple and solitary uterine leiomyomas, we collected samples from 35 Chinese women (multiple leiomyomas n = 20, solitary leiomyoma n = 15) undergoing surgery to remove uterine leiomyomas. ELISA assay was performed to detect estrogen(E2) concentration. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed to detect ERα and ERβ mRNA expression. Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis were performed to detect ERα and ERβ protein expression. We found that ERα mRNA and protein levels of in multiple leiomyomas were significantly lower than those of solitary leiomyomas, whereas ERβ mRNA and protein levels in multiple leiomyomas were significantly higher than those in solitary leiomyomas, irrespectively of the menstrual cycle stage. In both multiple and solitary leiomyomas, ERα expression was higher than that of ERβ. E2 concentration in multiple and solitary leiomyomas correlated with that of ERα expression. ERα was present in nuclus and cytoplasma while estrogen receptor β localized only in nuclei in both multiple and solitary leiomyomas. Our findings suggest that the difference of ERα and ERβ expression between multiple and solitary leiomyomas may be responsible for the course of the disease subtypes.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and The Ministry of Science and Technology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China.
authors.forename: Ruyue
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and The Ministry of Science and Technology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China.
authors.forename: Liaoqiong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China.
authors.forename: Ruoxi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chongqing Hifu Hospital, Chongqing 401121, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and The Ministry of Science and Technology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China. Electronic address: lqfang06@163.com.
authors.forename: Liaoqiong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-Founded by Chongqing and The Ministry of Science and Technology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China. Electronic address: wangzb@cqmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhibiao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta
keywords: Estrogen receptor; Multiple leiomyoma; Solitary leiomyoma; Uterine leiomyoma