ABSTRACT
To quantify the expression of HMGA1 mRNA in uterine leiomyomas, the expression of HMGA1 was analyzed in a series including tumors with aberrations of chromosome 6 (n = 7) and cytogenetically normal tumors (n = 8) as a control group by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The average expression level in the 6p21 group was found to be 5.6 times higher than that in the control group, and with one exception, all cases with 6p21 alteration revealed a high expression of HMGA1 mRNA than cytogenetically normal tumors. Nevertheless, compared to fibroids with a normal karyotype, the upregulation of the HMGA1 mRNA in these cases was much less strong than that of HMGA2 mRNA in case of 12q14â¼15 aberrations identified in previous studies.
Subject(s)
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , HMGA1a Protein/genetics , Leiomyoma/genetics , Uterine Neoplasms/genetics , Chromosome Aberrations , Chromosome Banding , Cytogenetics , Female , Gene Rearrangement , HMGA2 Protein/genetics , Humans , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , Karyotyping , RNA, Messenger/metabolismABSTRACT
An overexpression of HMGA2 is supposed to be a key event in the genesis of leiomyoma with chromosomal rearrangements affecting the region 12q14-15 targeting the HMGA2 gene, but gene expression data regarding differences between uterine leiomyomas with and those without 12q14-15 aberrations are insufficient. To address the question whether HMGA2 is only upregulated in the 12q14-15 subgroup, the expression of HMGA2 was analyzed in a comprehensive set of leiomyomas (n = 180) including tumors with 12q14-15 chromosomal aberrations (n = 13) and matching myometrial tissues (n = 51) by quantitative RT-PCR. The highest expression levels for HMGA2 were observed in tumors with rearrangements affecting the region 12q14-15, but although HMGA2 is expressed at lower levels in leiomyomas without such aberrations, the comparison between the expression in myomas and matching myometrial tissues indicates a general upregulation of HMGA2 regardless of the presence or absence of such chromosomal abnormalities. The significant (P < 0.05) overexpression of HMGA2 also in the group of fibroids without chromosomal aberrations of the 12q14-15 region suggests a general role of HMGA2 in the development of the disease.
