Expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 and insulin like growth factor-1 receptor in human uterine leiomyoma

Objective To investigate the expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1)and insulin like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) in human uterine leiomyoma and myometrium. Methods Fifty surgical specimens of uterine leiomyoma and corresponding normal myometrium were collected. The expression of TGF-β1 mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization (ISH); while the expression of TGF-β1 and IGF-1R proteins was detected by immunohistochemical S-P method. Results The positive expression of TGF-β1 mRNA and protein were all located in cytoplasm. The expressive values of TGF-β1 mRNA and protein in uterine leiomyoma were 1.02±0.38 and 1.42±0.67, respectively,while those in matched normal myometrium were 0.66±0.48 and 0.58±0.50, respectively (P0.01). The expressive values of IGF-1R in human uterine leiomyoma and normal myometrium were 1.92±0.88 and 0.80±0.49, respectively (P0.01). There were no significant differences in the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA and protein,IGF-1R protein between the proliferative and secretory phases both in uterine leiomyoma and normal myometrium. The expression of TGF-β1 protein was not correlated with that of IGF-1R. Conclusions TGFβ1 and IGF-1R might be important factors for growth of uterine leiomyoma.