Potential mechanisms of aberrant DNA hypomethylation on the X chromosome in uterine leiomyomas

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24592471
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Obstetrics and gynecology
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: SATO Shun 山口大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (10534604)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 子宮筋腫 / エピジェネティクス / DNAメチル化 / X染色体不活性化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Aberrant DNA hypomethylation in the whole X chromosome occurs in the uterine leiomyoma. In this study, we verified whether the aberrant expression of aberrantly hypomethylated genes specific to the leiomyoma or the dysfunction of genes related to the X chromosome inactivation (XCI) might be involved in the development of leiomyoma. As a result, although the two aberrantly hypomethylated genes specific to the leiomyoma on the X chromosome were identified, the aberrant expression did not occur in these genes. The expression analysis of XCI-related genes revealed that the expression of XIST and SATB1 genes tended to be altered similarly and was downregulated simultaneously in about a half of leiomyoma specimens. Therefore, the aberration of XCI-related genes such as SATB1 or XIST may be involved in aberrant hypomethylation on the X chromosome in a certain population of the patients with uterine leiomyomas.

Free Research Field

分子生物学