GSE178086
Loss of the repressor REST affects progesterone receptor function and promotes uterine leiomyoma pathogenesis [scRNA-seq]
Uterine Leiomyomas (UL) are benign tumors that arise in the myometrium of the uterus. The standard treatment option for UL is hysterectomy but hormonal treatment options are emerging in the field. However, since the pathogenesis of UL is poorly understood, hallmarks that predict long-term efficacy and safety of these treatment options remain largely undefined. We have reported previously that REST/NRSF target genes are aberrantly expressed due to the near ubiquitous loss of this epigenetic repressor in UL tumors. We show that ablation of Rest in the mouse uterus leads to UL phenotype and altered response to steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone. Additionally, we demonstrate that a large number of REST target genes dysregulated in UL as well as in Rest cKO mice, are also targets of progesterone receptor (PR). Importantly, we identify a direct interaction between REST and PR in the healthy myometrium. Rest cKO mouse model phenocopies human UL, including gene expression profiles of UL as well as tumor formation in the myometrium. Our findings emphasize the critical role loss of REST plays in disease pathogenesis and the altered response to steroid hormones seen in UL. Overall design: Whole uteri of Restf/f PR+/Cre cKO and control mice aged 5 months were isolated. Control samples (n=2) were pooled and cKO samples (n=2) were pooled.