Immunohistochemical Expression of the SERPINA3 Protein in Uterine Fibroids

Mateusz de Mezer; Anna Markowska; Janina Markowska; Monika Krzyżaniak; Beniamin Grabarek; Filip Pokusa; Jakub Żurawski

doi:10.2174/0113892010264673231111082438

Immunohistochemical Expression of the SERPINA3 Protein in Uterine Fibroids

Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2024 Jan 9. doi: 10.2174/0113892010264673231111082438. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Mateusz de Mezer¹, Anna Markowska², Janina Markowska³, Monika Krzyżaniak⁴, Beniamin Grabarek^{5

6}, Filip Pokusa⁷, Jakub Żurawski¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Immunobiology, Chair of Medical Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
² Department of Perinatology and Women's Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
³ Gynecological Center, Poznan, Poland.
⁴ Department of Oncological Pathology, Lord's Transfiguration Clinical Hospital, Partner of Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
⁵ Collegium Medicum, WSB University, 41-300 Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland.
⁶ Department of Histology, Cytophysiology and Embryology, Katowice School of Technology, Katowice, Poland.
⁷ Faculty of Economics and Pedagogy, Higher School of Management and Administration in Opole, 46-020 Opole, Poland.

PMID: 38204235
DOI: 10.2174/0113892010264673231111082438

Abstract

Background: SERPINA3 (α-1-antichymotrypsin, AACT, ACT) is produced by the liver and released into plasma in an anti-inflammatory response and plays a role as a modulator of extracellular matrix (ECM) by inhibiting serine proteases. Numerous studies proved an increased level of SERPINA3 in many types of cancer, which could be linked to SERPINA3's anti-apoptotic function.

Aim: In the context of progressive ECM fibrosis during the development of uterine fibroids, which are one of the most common hypertrophic changes within the uterus, it is interesting to describe the level of SERPINA3 protein in this type of lesion and the surrounding tissues.

Methods: We used immunohistochemical staining of the SERPINA3 protein and compared the intensity of the signal between the myoma tissue and the surrounding normal tissue.

Results: We showed a surprising reduction in the amount of the SERPINA3 protein within uterine fibroids compared to surrounding tissues.

Conclusion: This observation sheds new light on the role of this protein in the formation of proliferative changes and suggests that understanding the mechanism of its action may become the basis for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Keywords: ACT); SERPINA3; complications in childbirth.; extracellular matrix (ECM); monoclonal tumors; myoma; uterine fibroids; α-1-antichymotrypsin (AACT.