Thioredoxin expression in human myometrium and fibroids

Thioredoxin is a small multifunctional protein which acts as a dithiol hydrogen donor for ribonucleotide reductase in DNA synthesis. Thioredoxin participates in the regulation of different metabolic processes, such as changes in the activity of different enzymes, receptors or transcription factors. The aim of the present study was to determine possible differences in the expression of thioredoxin between myometrium and fibroids in women during different periods of life. Thioredoxin mRNA concentrations were determined in myometrial and fibroid tissues obtained from women during the menstrual cycle, during treatment with an analogue of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH agonist), in the postmenopausal period (PMP) and during pregnancy. The concentration of thioredoxin mRNA was measured by a solution hybridization method. The localization of thioredoxin protein was examined by immunohistochemistry. There were significantly lower levels of thioredoxin expression in both fibroids and myometrium from GnRH agonist treated and PMP women in comparison with the pregnant women. No difference in thioredoxin expression was found between myometrium and fibroids from the same woman or between myometria from uteri with or without fibroids in the same patient group. Thioredoxin expression in uterine fibroids does not seem to be up-regulated, but changes in response to the endocrine conditions in a similar way to that observed in the myometrium.