Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 58, 880-884, Copyright © 1984 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Binding sites for epidermal growth factor in human uterine tissues and leiomyomas

GE Hofmann, CV Rao, GH Barrows, GS Schultz and JS Sanfilippo

There is no published data regarding whether human uterine tissues and leiomyomas contain binding sites for epidermal growth factor (EGF). The present study was undertaken with 33 myometria, 13 leiomyomas, and 4 endometria. All myometria (fundus) and leiomyomas and 3 of 4 endometria specifically bound 125I-labeled mouse EGF (myometria: mean, 1.1; range, 0.1-3.9 fmol/mg protein; leiomyomas: mean, 1.1; range, 0.2-2.6 fmol/mg protein; endometria: mean, 1.0; range, 0.0-3.1 fmol/mg protein). [125I]EGF binding to myometrium was ligand specific in that only unlabeled EGF, but not unlabeled insulin, hCG, human PRL, prostaglandin E1, or prostaglandin F2 alpha, competed with [125I]EGF for binding. The apparent dissociation constants and specific binding capacities for myometrium and leiomyoma were: 0.7 nM, 1.9 fmol/mg protein; and 0.1 and 3.7 nM, 0.1 and 4.4 fmol/mg protein, respectively. While smooth muscle content decreased from the fundus to the cervical end of uteri, [125I]EGF binding did not correspondingly decrease (r = 0.5; n = 4). The binding of [125I]EGF to myometrium did not vary with the phase of the menstrual cycle or the patients' diagnosis before hysterectomy (P greater than 0.1). In summary, these results demonstrate that human uteri and leiomyomas contain specific, high affinity binding sites for EGF, but the binding neither exhibited topographical changes nor varied with the phase of the menstrual cycle or benign pathological state of the tissue.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. H. Hassan, S. A. Salama, H. M. M. Arafa, F. M. A. Hamada, and A. Al-Hendy Adenovirus-Mediated Delivery of a Dominant-Negative Estrogen Receptor Gene in Uterine Leiomyoma Cells Abrogates Estrogen- and Progesterone-Regulated Gene Expression J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2007; 92(10): 3949 - 3957. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Shushan, N. Rojansky, N. Laufer, B. Y. Klein, Z. Shlomai, R. Levitzki, Z. Hartzstark, and H. Ben-Bassat The AG1478 tyrosine kinase inhibitor is an effective suppressor of leiomyoma cell growth Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2004; 19(9): 1957 - 1967. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Yamada, S. Nakago, O. Kurachi, J. Wang, S. Takekida, H. Matsuo, and T. Maruo Progesterone down-regulates insulin-like growth factor-I expression in cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2004; 19(4): 815 - 821. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Shimomura, H. Matsuo, T. Samoto, and T. Maruo Up-Regulation by Progesterone of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen and Epidermal Growth Factor Expression in Human Uterine Leiomyoma J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 1998; 83(6): 2192 - 2198. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. Andersen and R. L. Barbieri Abnormal Gene Expression in Uterine Leiomyomas Reproductive Sciences, September 1, 1995; 2(5): 663 - 672. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. J. Slowey, H. G. Verhage, and A. T. Fazleabas Epidermal Growth Factor, Transforming Growth Factor-{alpha}, and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Localization in the Baboon (Papio anubis) Uterus During the Menstrual Cycle and Early Pregnancy Reproductive Sciences, October 1, 1994; 1(4): 277 - 284. [Abstract] [PDF]