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Comparative Characterization of Vaginal Cells Derived From Premenopausal Women With and Without Severe Pelvic Organ Prolapse

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Abstract

Background

This study tested a hypothesis that primary human vaginal cells derived from tissue of premenopausal women with severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP-HVCs) would display differential functional characteristics as compared to vaginal cells derived from asymptomatic women with normal pelvic floor support (control-HVCs).

Methods

Vaginal tissue biopsies were collected from premenopausal patients with POP (n = 8) and asymptomatic controls (n = 7) during vaginal hysterectomy or repair. Primary vaginal cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion and characterized by immunocytochemistry. Cell attachment and proliferation on different matrices (collagen I, collagen II, collagen IV, fibronectin, laminin, tenascin, and vitronectin) were compared between POP-HVCs and control-HVCs. RNA was extracted, and the expression of 84 genes was screened using Human Extracellular Matrix and Adhesion Molecules RT2 Profiler PCR array. The expression of selected genes was verified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Results

(1) Control-HVCs attached to collagen IV more efficiently than POP-HVCs; (2) control-HVCs and POP-HVCs show a similar proliferation rate when plated on proNectin and collagen I; (3) when seeded on collagen I, resting POP-HVCs expressed significantly (P < .05) increased transcript levels of collagen VII, multiple matrix metalloproteinases (MMP3, MMP7, MMP10, MMP12, MMP13, and MMP14), integrins (ITGA1, ITGA4, ITGA6, ITGA8, ITGB1, ITGB2, and ITGB3), and cell adhesion molecules as compared to control-HVCs. Collagen XV and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP1 and TIMP2) as well as genes involved in the biogenesis and maturation of collagen and elastin fibers (LOX, LOXL1-LOXL3, BMP1, and ADAMTS2) were significantly downregulated in POP-HVCs versus control-HVCs (P < .05).

Conclusions

Resting primary POP-HVCs in vitro show altered cellular characteristics as compared to control-HVCs, which may influence their dynamic responses to external mechanical or hormonal stimuli.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, 25 Orde Street, Suite 6-1019, M5G 1X5, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Hala Kufaishi MD, MSc, Stephen Lye PhD & Oksana Shynlova PhD

  2. Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    May Alarab MD, MSc & Harold Drutz MD

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    May Alarab MD, MSc, Harold Drutz MD, Stephen Lye PhD & Oksana Shynlova PhD

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  1. Hala Kufaishi MD, MSc
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  2. May Alarab MD, MSc
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  3. Harold Drutz MD
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  4. Stephen Lye PhD
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  5. Oksana Shynlova PhD
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Correspondence to Oksana Shynlova PhD.

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Kufaishi, H., Alarab, M., Drutz, H. et al. Comparative Characterization of Vaginal Cells Derived From Premenopausal Women With and Without Severe Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Reprod. Sci. 23, 931–943 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719115625840

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