title: Epidermal growth factor-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 expression and regulation in uterine leiomyoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the presence, differential expression, and regulation of epidermal growth factor-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1) in uterine leiomyomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory in vivo and in vitro study with the use of human leiomyoma and myometrial tissue and primary cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leiomyoma and myometrial tissue samples and cultured cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fold-change difference between EFEMP1 and fibulin-3 expression in leiomyoma tissue and cells compared with matched myometrial samples, and fold-change difference in EFEMP1 expression with 5-Aza-dC treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vivo, EFEMP1 expression was 3.19-fold higher in myometrial tissue than in leiomyoma tissue. EFEMP1 expression in vitro was 5.03-fold higher in myometrial cells than in leiomyoma cells. Western blot and immunohistochemistry staining of tissue and cells confirmed similar findings in protein expression. Treatment of leiomyoma cells with 5-Aza-dC resulted in increased expression of EFEMP1 in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EFEMP1 gene and its protein product, fibulin-3, are both significantly down-regulated in leiomyoma compared with myometrium when studied both in vivo and in vitro. The increase in EFEMP1 expression in leiomyoma cells with 5-Aza-dC treatment suggest that differential methylation is responsible, in part, for the differences seen in gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Science and Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: erica-marsh@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Erica E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Science and Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Shani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chibber
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Science and Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Science and Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Kendra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Siegersma
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Science and Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Science and Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bulun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C119630:EFEMP1 protein, human; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins
keywords: EFEMP1; extracellular matrix; fibulins; leiomyoma