scholarly journals Contemporary concepts of uterine fibroids’ pathogenesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-99
Author(s):  
Anna N. Taits ◽  
Nikolai N. Ruhljada ◽  
Valeriy I. Matukhin ◽  
Aleksandra D. Somova ◽  
Kristina A. Dudova

Uterine myoma is the most common benign tumor among women which affects mainly those of reproductive age. Moreover, the frequency of emergence of this pathology in population is growing while the age of patients is steadily decreasing. Despite the enormous prevalence of this disease, its pathogenesis has not been studied properly. This article is concerned with an analysis of publications devoted to the study of the mechanisms of growth and development of uterine fibroids, it provides some data on the role of various factors in its extension. The article concerns the most popular concepts of the pathogenesis of this disease according to which the illness may be caused by increased levels of sex hormones (estrogens and progestins), enhanced expression of their receptors, impaired apoptosis, the effect of growth factors (e. g. epidermal growth factor, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor, acid and basic fibroblast growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, activin, myostatin), abnormal deposition extracellular matrix, genetic (chromosomal aberration and various MED12 gene defect) and epigenetic mechanisms (such as action microRNA), circulatory disorders and impairment of cell differentiation from a population of accessory stem cells. However, it is noted that the pathogenesis of this pathology requires further detailed study, as the understanding of the processes leading to its development could greatly contribute to the improvement of the tactics of treatment and possibly allow to elaborate some preventive measures to avert the development of fibroids.

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 964-972
Author(s):  
TSUKASA TAKEMURA ◽  
SATOSHI HINO ◽  
HIROAKI KUWAJIMA ◽  
HIDEHIKO YANAGIDA ◽  
MITSURU OKADA ◽  
...  

Abstract. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a member of the epidermal growth factor family of growth factors, is synthesized as a membrane-an-chored precursor (proHB-EGF) that is capable of stimulating adjacent cells in a juxtacrine manner. ProHB-EGF is cleaved in a protein kinase C-dependent process, to yield the soluble form. It was observed that HB-EGF acts as a morphogen for the collecting duct system in developing kidneys. HB-EGF protein was expressed in the ureteric bud of embryonic kidneys. Cultured mouse ureteric bud cells (UBC) produced HB-EGF via protein kinase C activation. After stimulation with phorbol ester (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) or recombinant soluble HB-EGF, UBC cultured in three-dimensional collagen gels formed short tubules with varied abundant branches. When proHB-EGF-transfected UBC were stimulated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and cultured in collagen gels, they exhibited linear growth, forming long tubular structures with few branches at the time of appearance of proHB-EGF on the cell surface. The structures exhibited a strong resemblance to the early branching ureteric bud of embryonic kidneys. When UBC were cultured in the presence of transforming growth factor-β and soluble HB-EGF, they formed long tubules and few branches, similar to the structures observed in proHB-EGF-transfected UBC. These cells exhibited apical-basolateral polarization and expression of the water channel aquaporin-2. These findings indicate that soluble HB-EGF and proHB-EGF induce branching tubulogenesis in UBC in different ways. Juxtacrine activation by proHB-EGF or the synergic action of soluble HB-EGF with transforming growth factor-β is important for well balanced morphogenesis of the collecting duct system.


2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-70
Author(s):  
Yun-Cai Cai ◽  
Victor Roggli ◽  
Eugene Mark ◽  
Philip T. Cagle ◽  
Armando E. Fraire

Abstract Background.—Growth factors such as transforming growth factor α (TGF-α) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) play an important role in cell proliferation. The immunohistochemical expression of these factors has been extensively studied in malignant tumors including mesothelioma. However, the comparative expression of these growth factors in mesothelioma and reactive mesothelial proliferations has been less well studied. Objective.—To evaluate the possible role of TGF-α and EGFR in the clinically important distinction between reactive mesothelial proliferations and malignant mesothelioma. Methods.—The expression of TGF-α and EGFR was studied in 39 cases of mesothelioma and 30 cases of reactive mesothelial proliferations by means of immunohistochemistry. Results.—Fourteen (70%) of 20 reactive mesothelial proliferations tested and 29 (76%) of 38 mesotheliomas tested expressed TGF-α. One (3%) of 30 reactive mesothelial proliferations and 17 (45%) of 39 mesotheliomas expressed EGFR. Conclusions.—These results suggest an up-regulation of EGFR in mesothelioma as compared with reactive mesothelial proliferations. This up-regulation further suggests a possible use of EGFR as an adjunct immunohistochemical test in the differential diagnosis of mesothelioma and reactive mesothelial proliferations.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 167
Author(s):  
Y.-J. Kim ◽  
E.-M. Jung ◽  
G.-S. Lee ◽  
S.-H. Hyun ◽  
E.-B. Jeung

To stably maintain pregnancy, several genes are expressed in the uterus. In particular, the endometrial expression of genes encoding growth factors appears to play a key role in maternal–fetal communication. Previous studies have characterized the endometrial expression kinetics of the genes encoding epidermal growth factor (EGF), its receptor (EGFR), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α), amphiregulin (Areg), heparin-binding (Hb) EGF, and calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) in the pig during implantation. Here, we further characterized the expression patterns of these molecules during the entire porcine pregnancy. Porcine (n = 3 per PD) were collected at pregnancy days (PD) 12, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 110 and subjected to semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The data were analyzed with a nonparametric one-way analysis of variance using the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Dunnett's test for multiple comparisons to the negative control. EGF and EGFR showed similar expression patterns, being highly expressed around implantation time and then disappearing. TGF-α and Areg expression levels rose steadily until they peaked at PD30, after which they gradually decreased to PD12 levels. The Areg mRNA expression pattern was confirmed by real-time PCR, and similar Areg protein expression patterns were observed. Immunohistochemical analysis of PD60 uteri revealed Areg in the glandular and luminal epithelial cells. Hb-EGF was steadily expressed throughout the entire pregnancy while CaBP-9k was expressed strongly on PD12, and then declined sharply in PD15 before recovering slightly for the remainder of the pregnancy. Thus, the EGF family may play a key role during implantation in pigs. In addition, CaBP-9k may help maintain uterine quiescence during pregnancy by sequestering cytoplasmic Ca2+.


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