Expression of the Chemokine CXCL12 and its Receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 in Human and Nonhuman Primate Uterine Leiomyomas by Graciela Krikun in Open Access Journal of Reproductive System and Sexual Disorders (OAJRSD) in Lupine Publishers
Uterine
leiomyomas (also known as fibroids) are associated with several symptoms,
including abnormal uterine bleeding, pressure-related symptoms, and recurrent
pregnancy loss. These tumors affect up to 80% of fertile women between the ages
of 30 and 50 years. However, there are currently no proven medical therapies
for the long-term treatment of leiomyomas, and surgical treatment comes at a
significant physical, psychological, and health care costs. It is estimated
that this disease results in annual costs of 22 billion dollars. CXCL12
(formerly known as stromal derived factor (SDF-1)) acts via its receptors CXCR4
and CXCR7 and is a potent chemokine found to be excessively expressed in
inflammatory diseases. Leiomyomas represent an inflammatory milieu; thus, we
posit that the CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7 axis is involved in the progression of
leiomyomas. This study is a prerequisite for non-hormonal and non-surgical
treatment of leiomyomas. When comparing the expression of these molecules in
leiomyomas vs. normal myometrium we noted the expression of this axis is
elevated in humans and nonhuman primates. Human and nonhuman primates displayed
extensive similarities. While CXCR4 stained both nuclei and cytoplasm in
leiomyomas, CXCL12 and CXCR7 were confined to the cell membrane and cytoplasm.
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