Objective: To further the understanding of the mechanism behind myoma necrosis and uterus survival after uterine artery occlusion.
Method: Myomal and myometrial gene transcription and protein expression of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) were investigated in 30 uteri.
Results: Compared with myometrial expression, myomal expression was less for uPA mRNA (1.34%+/-2.18% vs 2.84%+/-2.97%; P<0.05) and greater for PAI-1 mRNA (2.67%+/-1.82% vs 1.27%+/-1.99%; P<0.05), but the difference in tPA mRNA expression was not significant. Accordingly, compared with myometrial expression, myomal expression was less for the uPA protein (P<0.05) and greater for the PAI-1 protein (P<0.05), but the difference in tPA protein was not significant.
Conclusion: The PA/PAI system was found to be expressed differently in myomas and the myometrium, which may play a role in uterus survival and myoma necrosis after uterine artery occlusion.