Downregulation of DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha promotes cell proliferation and invasion of ectopic endometrial stromal cells in adenomyosis

Zou Y, Yang Zou, Faying Liu, Liu FY, Fa-Ying Liu, Liqun Wang, Wang LQ, Li-Qun Wang, Guo JB, Jiu-Bai Guo, Bicheng Yang, Bi-Cheng Yang, Yang BC, Xi-Di Wan, Xi‐di Wan, Wan XD, Feng Wang, Wang F, Ming He, He M, Ou-Ping Huang, Ouping Huang, Huang OP
Gene · 2016 · vol. 604 , pp. 41–47 · doi:10.1016/j.gene.2016.12.011 · PMID:27986572 · W2564231627
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This study investigated the role of DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha in adenomyosis and found its downregulation promotes ectopic endometrial stromal cell proliferation and invasion.

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Abstract

Adenomyosis is a common benign gynecological condition in female reproductive tract and the detailed molecular etiology remains largely elusive. Previous studies implicated that deregulated expression of DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A), a de novo DNA methyltransferase, might be involved in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis. Meanwhile, ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs) were suggested to play crucial roles in adenomyosis. Herein, we evaluated the expression of DNMT3A protein in 36 ectopic endometriums with adenomyosis and 37 eutopic endometriums in controls with Western blotting (WB) or immunohistochemistry (IHC), we found that the expression of DNMT3A was significantly decreased in the ectopic endometriums and EESCs in adenomyosis relative to that of eutopic endometriums and EESCs in control samples, respectively. In addition, our functional assays revealed that overexpression of DNMT3A suppressed cell proliferation and invasion, while knockdown of DNMT3A enhanced cell proliferation and invasion in EESCs. Taken together, our results suggested that DNMT3A expression was decreased in ectopic endometriums and EESCs in adenomyosis, and we provided the first evidence that decreased DNMT3A expression in EESCs facilitated the development of adenomyosis via enhanced cell growth and invasion.

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Condition tags

adenomyosis

MeSH descriptors

Adenomyosis Choristoma DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases Endometrium RNA, Messenger Stromal Cells Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adult Case-Control Studies Cell Movement Cell Proliferation Choristoma Choristoma Choristoma DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases DNA Methyltransferase 3A

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