Differential expression of microRNA species in human uterine leiomyoma versus normal myometrium

Objective: To determine whether microRNAs (miRNAs) are differentially expressed in human leiomyoma versus matched myometrial tissue. Design: Microarray with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) validation. Setting: Academic medical center. Patient(s): Premenopausal subjects (n = 15), who were undergoing hysterectomies for leiomyoma-related symptoms. Intervention(S): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Statistically differential expression of miRNAs in leiomyoma versus myometrium. Result(s): Forty-six miRNA species were differentially expressed in leiomyoma versus normal myometrium. Of these, 19 were overexpressed and 27 were underexpressed in leiomyomas. The changes ranged from 1.2-fold to 11.8-fold. These findings were confirmed using real-time reverse transcriptase PCR for selected miRNAs (miRNAs 21, 34a, 125b, 139, and 323). Conclusion(s): Our findings indicate that miRNAs are differentially expressed between human leiomyoma and matched myometrium. Given this differential expression, miRNAs may play a role in the pathogenesis of uterine leiomyoma and may serve as future therapeutic targets for the treatment of these tumors.