@article {10435, title = {Dysregulated chaperones associated with cell proliferation and negative apoptosis regulation in the uterine leiomyoma.}, journal = {Oncol Lett}, volume = {15}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 May}, pages = {8005-8010}, abstract = {

Uterine leiomyomas are benign smooth muscle cell tumors that originate from the myometrium. In this study we focus on dysregulated chaperones associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis. Paired tissue samples of 15 leiomyomas and adjacent myometria were obtained and analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Mass spectrometry was used for protein identification and western blotting for 2-DE data validation. The values of 6 chaperones were found to be significantly different in the leiomyoma when compared with the myometrium. A total of 4 proteins were upregulated in the leiomyoma and 2 proteins were downregulated. Calreticulin and 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein were further validated by western blotting because the first is considered a marker of cell proliferation, while the second protects against apoptotic cell death. In addition, we also validated the two downregulated proteins heat shock protein β-1 and heat shock 70 kDa protein 1A. Our study shows the existence of a dysregulation of chaperone proteins associated with leiomyoma development. Functional studies are needed to ascertain the role of these chaperones in the leiomyoma. This may be crucial for the further development of specific inhibitors against the activity of these proteins in order to block the growth of the leiomyoma.

}, issn = {1792-1074}, doi = {10.3892/ol.2018.8325}, author = {Ura, Blendi and Scrimin, Federica and Arrigoni, Giorgio and Aloisio, Michelangelo and Monasta, Lorenzo and Ricci, Giuseppe} } @article {10542, title = {Identification of proteins with different abundance associated with cell migration and proliferation in leiomyoma interstitial fluid by proteomics.}, journal = {Oncol Lett}, volume = {13}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 May}, pages = {3912-3920}, abstract = {

Uterine leiomyoma is the most common female reproductive tract benign tumor. Little is known about protein composition and changes in the leiomyoma interstitial fluid (IF). The present study focused on changes in protein abundance in the IF of leiomyoma. Leiomyoma IFs and adjacent myometrial IFs were obtained and analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with mass spectrometry and western blotting for 2-DE data validation. A total of 25 unique proteins were observed to change significantly (P<0.05). Of these proteins with different abundance, 22 had not been previously identified in leiomyoma IF. analysis predicted that three of these proteins were secreted via classical mechanisms, while 22 were secreted via non-classical mechanisms. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified 17 proteins associated with cellular migration and proliferation. Among these, phosphoglycerate mutase 1 had not been previously associated with leiomyoma. The abundance of seven proteins was further validated by western blotting. A comparative proteomic approach identified a number of proteins associated with cellular migration and proliferation, with changes in abundance in IF likely to be involved in tumor development. Further studies will be required to investigate the role of these proteins in leiomyoma IF and their possible association with tumor development and growth.

}, issn = {1792-1074}, doi = {10.3892/ol.2017.5943}, author = {Ura, Blendi and Scrimin, Federica and Franchin, Cinzia and Arrigoni, Giorgio and Licastro, Danilo and Monasta, Lorenzo and Ricci, Giuseppe} } @article {8322, title = {Abnormal expression of leiomyoma cytoskeletal proteins involved in cell migration.}, journal = {Oncol Rep}, volume = {35}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 May}, pages = {3094-100}, abstract = {

Uterine leiomyomas are monoclonal tumors. Several factors are involved in the neoplastic transformation of the myometrium. In our study we focused on dysregulated cytoskeletal proteins in the leiomyoma as compared to the myometrium. Paired tissue samples of ten leiomyomas and adjacent myometria were obtained and analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Mass spectrometry was used for protein identification, and western blotting for 2-DE data validation. The values of ten cytoskeletal proteins were found to be significantly different: eight proteins were upregulated in the leiomyoma and two proteins were downregulated. Three of the upregulated proteins (myosin regulatory light polypeptide 9, four and a half LIM domains protein 1 and LIM and SH3 domain protein 1) are involved in cell migration, while downregulated protein transgelin is involved in replicative senescence. Myosin regulatory light polypeptide 9 (MYL9) was further validated by western blotting because it is considered to be a cell migration marker in several cancers and could play a key role in leiomyoma development. Our data demonstrate significant alterations in the expression of cytoskeletal proteins involved in leiomyoma growth. A better understanding of the involvement of cytoskeletal proteins in leiomyoma pathogenesis may contribute to the identification of new therapeutic targets and the development of new pharmacological approaches.

}, issn = {1791-2431}, doi = {10.3892/or.2016.4688}, author = {Ura, Blendi and Scrimin, Federica and Arrigoni, Giorgio and Athanasakis, Emmanouil and Aloisio, Michelangelo and Monasta, Lorenzo and Ricci, Giuseppe} } @article {8341, title = {A Proteomic Approach for the Identification of Up-Regulated Proteins Involved in the Metabolic Process of the Leiomyoma.}, journal = {Int J Mol Sci}, volume = {17}, year = {2016}, month = {2016}, pages = {540}, abstract = {

Uterine leiomyoma is the most common benign smooth muscle cell tumor of the uterus. Proteomics is a powerful tool for the analysis of complex mixtures of proteins. In our study, we focused on proteins that were upregulated in the leiomyoma compared to the myometrium. Paired samples of eight leiomyomas and adjacent myometrium were obtained and submitted to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry for protein identification and to Western blotting for 2-DE data validation. The comparison between the patterns revealed 24 significantly upregulated (p < 0.05) protein spots, 12 of which were found to be associated with the metabolic processes of the leiomyoma and not with the normal myometrium. The overexpression of seven proteins involved in the metabolic processes of the leiomyoma was further validated by Western blotting and 2D Western blotting. Four of these proteins have never been associated with the leiomyoma before. The 2-DE approach coupled with mass spectrometry, which is among the methods of choice for comparative proteomic studies, identified a number of proteins overexpressed in the leiomyoma and involved in several biological processes, including metabolic processes. A better understanding of the mechanism underlying the overexpression of these proteins may be important for therapeutic purposes.

}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms17040540}, author = {Ura, Blendi and Scrimin, Federica and Arrigoni, Giorgio and Franchin, Cinzia and Monasta, Lorenzo and Ricci, Giuseppe} } @article {7754, title = {Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis of the leiomyoma interstitial fluid reveals altered protein expression with a possible involvement in pathogenesis.}, journal = {Oncol Rep}, volume = {33}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 May}, pages = {2219-26}, abstract = {

Uterine leiomyoma is the most common smooth benign neoplasm. In the present study, we analyzed the global interstitial fluid (IF) profile of leiomyoma vs. normal myometrium to identify protein dysregulation involved in leiomyoma pathogenesis. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were used to generate and compare the global interstitial fluid profiles of the leiomyoma and of the normal tissue. Two proteins were validated by immunohistochemistry. By comparing the interstitial fluid profile of the leiomyoma with that of the normal myometrium, the levels of seven proteins were found to be significantly different: four structural organization proteins (desmin, prelamin-A/C, transgelin and α-actinin-1), an inflammatory response (α1-antitrypsin), a response to oxidative stress (peroxiredoxin-2), and a folding protein (heat shock 70 kDa protein 1A/1B). Desmin, α1-antitrypsin and peroxiredoxin-2 were upregulated in the leiomyoma, whereas heat shock 70 kDa protein 1A/1B, α-actinin-1, prelamin-A/C and transgelin were downregulated. Desmin and α1-antitrypsin were further validated by immunohistochemistry. By identifying proteins with altered expression levels compared to the myometrium from several pathways of the leiomyoma pathogenesis, we found the leiomyoma interstitial fluid to have a characteristic proteomic profile. A better appreciation of the pathophysiology of the disease can be useful in the development of conservative treatments that serve as viable alternatives to hysterectomy.

}, issn = {1791-2431}, doi = {10.3892/or.2015.3827}, author = {Ura, Blendi and Scrimin, Federica and Zanconati, Fabrizio and Arrigoni, Giorgio and Monasta, Lorenzo and Romano, Andrea and Banco, Rubina and Zweyer, Marina and Milani, Daniela and Ricci, Giuseppe} }