title: Microarray gene expression analysis of uterosacral ligaments in uterine prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a major health problem that impairs the quality of life with a wide clinical spectrum. Since the uterosacral ligaments provide primary support for the uterus and the upper vagina, we hypothesize that the disruption of these ligaments may lead to a loss of support and eventually contribute to POP.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we therefore investigated whether there are any differences in the transcription profile of uterosacral ligaments in patients with POP when compared to those of the control samples. Seventeen women with POP and 8 non-POP controls undergoing hysterectomy for benign conditions were included in the study. Affymetrix® Gene Chip microarrays (Human Hu 133 plus 2.0) were used for whole genome gene expression profiling analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was 1 significantly down-regulated gene, NKX2-3 in patients with POP compared to the controls (p=4.28464e-013). KIF11 gene was found to be significantly down-regulated in patients with ≥3 deliveries compared to patients with <3 deliveries (p=0.0156237). UGT1A1 (p=2.43388e-005), SCARB1 (p=1.19001e-006) and NKX2-3 (p=2.17966e-013) genes were found to be significantly down-regulated in the premenopausal patients compared to the premenopausal controls. UGT1A1 gene was also found to be significantly down-regulated in the post menopausal patients compared to the postmenopausal controls (p=0.0005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence for a significant down-regulation of the genes that take role in cell cycle, proliferation and embryonic development along with cell adhesion process on the development of POP for the first time.
authors: Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: handan.ak.c@gmail.com.
authors: Handan
authors: H
authors: Ak
authors: Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Burak
authors: B
authors: Zeybek
authors: Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Sevcan
authors: S
authors: Atay
authors: Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Niyazi
authors: N
authors: Askar
authors: Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Akdemir
authors: Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: hhakan.aydin@gmail.com.
authors: Hikmet Hakan
authors: HH
authors: Aydin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012447:Sacrum / Q000378:metabolism*; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000235:genetics*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: Gene expression; Microarray; Uterine prolapse; Uterosacral ligament