Expression of the Chemokine CXCL12 and its
Receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 in Human and
Nonhuman Primate Uterine Leiomyomas
Volume 1 - Issue 2
Carmen J Booth1 and Graciela Krikun2*
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- 1Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, USA
- 2Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, USA
*Corresponding author:
Graciela Krikun, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of
Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
Received: June 04, 2018; Published: June 13, 2018
DOI: 10.32474/OAJRSD.2018.01.000108
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Abstract
Uterine leiomyomas (also known as fibroids) are associated with several symptoms, including abnormal uterine bleeding,
pressure-related symptoms, and recurrent pregnancy loss. These tumors affect up to 80% of fertile women between the ages of 30
and 50 years. However, there are currently no proven medical therapies for the long-term treatment of leiomyomas, and surgical
treatment comes at a significant physical, psychological, and health care costs. It is estimated that this disease results in annual costs
of 22 billion dollars. CXCL12 (formerly known as stromal derived factor (SDF-1)) acts via its receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 and is a
potent chemokine found to be accessibly expressed in inflammatory diseases. Leiomyomas represent an inflammatory milieu; thus,
we posit that the CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7 axis is involved in the progression of leiomyomas. This study is a prerequisite for nonhormonal
and non-surgical treatment of leiomyomas. When comparing the expression of these molecules in leiomyomas vs. normal
myometrium we noted the expression of this axis is elevated in humans and nonhuman primates. Human
and nonhuman primates displayed extensive similarities. While CXCR4 stained both nuclei and cytoplasm in leiomyomas, CXCL12
and CXCR7 were confined to the cell membrane and cytoplasm.
Keywords: Leiomyomas; Human and nonhuman primates; CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7 axis
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