Von Hippel-Lindau gene expression in human endometrium during menstrual cycle

The Expression of Kisspeptins and Matrix Metalloproteinases in Extragenital Endometriosis

Endometriosis is characterized by a condition where endometrial tissue grows outside the uterine cavity. The mechanisms of endometrium growth during endometriosis might be similar to the development of a tumor. The kisspeptin (KISS1) gene was initially discovered as a suppressor of metastasis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors are described as factors in the early stages of endometriosis and tumor growth progression. We applied the quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the immunofluorescence method to investigate KISS1, its receptor (KISS1R), MMP-2, and MMP-9 in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium in women with and without endometriosis. We presume that the dysregulation of KISS1 and MMPs might contribute to endometriosis pathogenesis. Samples for the immunofluorescence study were collected from patients with a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis in stages I-IV, aged 23 to 38 years old (n = 40). The cell line was derived from the endometrium of patients with extragenital endometriosis (n = 7). KISS1 and KISS1R expression are present in the ectopic endometrium of patients with extragenital endometriosis, as opposed to the control group where these proteins were not expressed. There is a decrease in KISS1 and KISS1R values at all stages of endometriosis. MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes express statistically significant increases in stages II, III, and IV of extragenital endometriosis. MMP synthesis increased in the last stages of endometriosis. We suppose that the KISS1/KISS1R system can be used in the future as a suppressive complex to reduce MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and prevent endometrial cells from invading.

The von Hippel-Lindau Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase regulates APOBEC3 cytidine deaminases

The 7 members of the A3 family of cytidine deaminases (A3A to A3H) share a conserved catalytic activity that converts cytidines in single-stranded (ss) DNA into uridines, thereby inducing mutations. After their initial identification as cell-intrinsic defenses against HIV and other retroviruses, A3s were also found to impair many additional viruses. Moreover, some of the A3 proteins (A3A, A3B, and A3H haplotype I) are dysregulated in cancer cells, thereby causing chromosomal mutations that can be selected to fuel progression of malignancy. Viral mechanisms that increase transcription of A3 genes or induce proteasomal degradation of A3 proteins have been characterized. However, only a few underlying biological mechanisms regulating levels of A3s in uninfected cells have been described. Here, we characterize that the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor (pVHL), via its CRL^pVHL, induces degradation of all 7 A3 proteins. Two independent lines of evidence supported the conclusion that the multiprotein CRL^pVHL complex is necessary for A3 degradation. CRL^pVHL more effectively induced degradation of nuclear, procancer A3 (A3B) than the cytoplasmic, antiretroviral A3 (A3G). These results identify specific cellular factors that regulate A3s post-translationally.

Molecular signatures of ovarian diseases: Insights from network medicine perspective

Dysfunctions and disorders in the ovary lead to a host of diseases including ovarian cancer, ovarian endometriosis, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind ovarian diseases is a great challenge. In the present study, we performed a meta-analysis of transcriptome data for ovarian cancer, ovarian endometriosis, and PCOS, and integrated the information gained from statistical analysis with genome-scale biological networks (protein-protein interaction, transcriptional regulatory, and metabolic). Comparative and integrative analyses yielded reporter biomolecules (genes, proteins, metabolites, transcription factors, and micro-RNAs), and unique or common signatures at protein, metabolism, and transcription regulation levels, which might be beneficial to uncovering the underlying biological mechanisms behind the diseases. These signatures were mostly associated with formation or initiation of cancer development, and pointed out the potential tendency of PCOS and endometriosis to tumorigenesis. Molecules and pathways related to MAPK signaling, cell cycle, and apoptosis were the mutual determinants in the pathogenesis of all three diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first report that screens these diseases from a network medicine perspective. This study provides signatures which could be considered as potential therapeutic targets and/or as medical prognostic biomarkers in further experimental and clinical studies. Abbreviations DAVID: Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery; DEGs: differentially expressed genes; GEO: Gene Expression Omnibus; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; LIMMA: Linear Models for Microarray Data; MBRole: Metabolite Biological Role; miRNA: micro-RNA; PCOS: polycystic ovarian syndrome; PPI: protein-protein interaction; RMA: Robust Multi-Array Average; TF: transcription factor.