High expression of calcium channel subtypes in uterine fibroid of patients.

AIM: To investigate the expression of calcium channel protein in uterine fibroids, and to explore the relationship between calcium signaling pathway and the pathogenesis of uterine fibroids.

METHODS

Uterine fibroid tissues (UFC) and adjacent healthy uterine smooth muscle tissues (SMC) were collected from 30 cases of uterine fibroids. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot were used to detect cell membrane calcium channel protein subtypes: TRPC1, TRPC3, TRPC4, TRPC6, TRPM6 and TRPM7. The effects of genes exhibiting most-notable differences on cell proliferation were examined using gene interference techniques.

RESULTS

We found that calcium channel protein subtypes expressed differently in fibroids and the surrounding smooth muscles. The mRNA and protein expressions of TRPC1 and TRPM7 were higher in uterine fibroid tissues than in smooth muscle (P < 0.05), while no obvious difference was found in terms of other subtypes (TRPC3, TRPC4, TRPC6 and TRPM6). In cultured uterine leiomyoma cells, modifying the expressions of TRPC1 and TRPM7 significantly affected the proliferation rate of uterine fibroids.

CONCLUSION

Calcium channel subtypes TRPC1 and TRPM7 exhibit different expression patterns in uterine fibroids and surrounding smooth muscles, suggesting that calcium signaling pathway regulated by these calcium channel proteins may be associated with the incidence of uterine fibroids.