Gene expression profile of patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome: new insights into the potential role of developmental pathways

PLoS One. 2014 Mar 7;9(3):e91010. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091010. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKHS) is a rare disease characterized by congenital aplasia of uterus and vagina. Although many studies have investigated several candidate genes, up to now none of them seem to be responsible for the aetiology of the syndrome. In our study, we identified differences in gene expression profile of in vitro cultured vaginal tissue of MRHKS patients using whole-genome microarray analysis. A group of eight out of sixteen MRKHS patients that underwent reconstruction of neovagina with an autologous in vitro cultured vaginal tissue were subjected to microarray analysis and compared with five healthy controls. Results obtained by array were confirmed by qRT-PCR and further extended to other eight MRKHS patients. Gene profiling of MRKHS patients delineated 275 differentially expressed genes, of which 133 downregulated and 142 upregulated. We selected six deregulated genes (MUC1, HOXC8, HOXB2, HOXB5, JAG1 and DLL1) on the basis of their fold change, their differential expression in most patients and their relevant role in embryological development. All patients showed upregulation of MUC1, while HOXB2 and HOXB5 were downregulated, as well as Notch ligands JAG1 and DLL1 in the majority of them. Interestingly, HOXC8 was significantly upregulated in 47% of patients, with a differential expression only in MRKHS type I patients. Taken together, our results highlighted the dysregulation of developmental genes, thus suggesting a potential alteration of networks involved in the formation of the female reproductive tract and providing a useful clue for understanding the pathophysiology of MRKHS.

MeSH terms

  • 46, XX Disorders of Sex Development / genetics*
  • 46, XX Disorders of Sex Development / metabolism
  • 46, XX Disorders of Sex Development / surgery
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Congenital Abnormalities / genetics*
  • Congenital Abnormalities / metabolism
  • Congenital Abnormalities / surgery
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Jagged-1 Protein
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Microarray Analysis
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucin-1 / genetics
  • Mucin-1 / metabolism
  • Mullerian Ducts / abnormalities*
  • Mullerian Ducts / metabolism
  • Mullerian Ducts / surgery
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Serrate-Jagged Proteins
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcriptome*
  • Uterus / abnormalities
  • Uterus / metabolism*
  • Vagina / abnormalities
  • Vagina / metabolism*
  • Vagina / surgery

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • DLK1 protein, human
  • HOXB2 protein, human
  • HOXB5 protein, human
  • HOXC8 protein, human
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • JAG1 protein, human
  • Jagged-1 Protein
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mucin-1
  • Serrate-Jagged Proteins
  • Transcription Factors

Supplementary concepts

  • Mullerian aplasia

Grants and funding

The authors have no support or funding to report.