MED12 mutation activates the tryptophan/kynurenine/AHR pathway to promote growth of uterine leiomyomas.

Uterine leiomyomas cause heavy menstrual bleeding, anemia, and pregnancy loss in millions of women worldwide. Driver mutations in the transcriptional mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12) gene in uterine myometrial cells initiate 70% of leiomyomas that grow in a progesterone-dependent manner. We showed a distinct chromatin occupancy landscape of MED12 in mutant MED12 (mut-MED12) versus WT-MED12 leiomyomas.

In Vivo Genome-Wide PGR Binding in Pregnant Human Myometrium Identifies Potential Regulators of Labor.

The alterations in myometrial biology during labor are not well understood. The myometrium is the contractile portion of the uterus and contributes to labor, a process that may be regulated by the steroid hormone progesterone. Thus, human myometrial tissues from term pregnant in-active-labor (TIL) and term pregnant not-in-labor (TNIL) subjects were used for genome-wide analyses to elucidate potential future preventive or therapeutic targets involved in the regulation of labor.

Progesterone receptor-DNA methylation crosstalk regulates depletion of uterine leiomyoma stem cells: A potential therapeutic target.

Uterine leiomyoma (LM) is the most common tumor in women. Via its receptor (PGR) expressed in differentiated LM cells, progesterone stimulates paracrine signaling that induces proliferation of PGR-deficient LM stem cells (LSCs). Antiprogestins shrink LM but tumors regrow after treatment cessation possibly due to persisting LSCs.

Activation of protein kinase B by WNT4 as a regulator of uterine leiomyoma stem cell function.

Objective: To investigate the functional interaction between the Wnt/β-catenin and protein kinase B (Akt) pathways in leiomyoma stem cells (LSC).

Design: Laboratory study.

Setting: Research laboratory.

Targeting DNA Methylation Depletes Uterine Leiomyoma Stem Cell-enriched Population by Stimulating Their Differentiation.

Uterine leiomyoma (LM) is the most common tumor in women and can cause severe morbidity. Leiomyoma growth requires the maintenance and proliferation of a stem cell population. Dysregulated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation has been reported in LM, but its role in LM stem cell regulation remains unclear.