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Aberrant Expression of Cyr61, a Member of the CCN (CTGF/Cyr61/Cef10/NOVH) Family, and Dysregulation by 17ß-Estradiol and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor in Human Uterine Leiomyomas

Women’s Health Research Institute, Endocrinology Division, Wyeth-Ayerst Research, Inc., Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Z. Zhang, Women’s Health Research Institute, Wyeth-Ayerst Research, Inc., Room 4003, 145 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087. E-mail: zhangz{at}war.wyeth.com

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common tumors of the reproductive tract, afflicting women between the ages of 30–55 yr. Although considered to be the leading cause of hysterectomies in the United States, little is known of the etiology and mechanisms of pathogenesis in leiomyomas. Accordingly, rapid analysis of differential expression (RADE) was employed to identify genes that are abnormally expressed in leiomyomas. Of the several genes identified, Cyr61, a member of the CCN family of growth and angiogenic regulators, was shown to be markedly down-regulated at the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein levels in leiomyoma tumors compared with the matched uterine myometrial controls (n = 38). In addition, in situ hybridization experiments corroborated the lack of Cyr61 expression in leiomyoma cells, whereas abundant transcript levels were identified in adjacent myometrial smooth muscle cells. To elucidate the mechanisms of Cyr61 gene regulation in leiomyomas, we determined the effects of ovarian steroids, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and serum, on Cyr61 expression using an ex vivo culture system. Treatment of human myometrial explants with 17ß-estradiol and bFGF up-regulated Cyr61 transcripts, whereas the progesterone receptor agonist, R5020 (alone or in combination with 17ß-estradiol), had no effect. Paradoxically, neither 17ß-estradiol nor bFGF was capable of up-regulating Cyr61 mRNA in leiomyoma explants despite elevated levels of ER mRNA, suggesting a possible defect in steroid and growth factor regulation. Thus, dysregulation of Cyr61 by estrogen and bFGF may contribute to down-regulation of Cyr61 in leiomyomas, which, in turn, may predispose uterine smooth muscle cells toward sustained growth.

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