Evaluation of expression levels of different nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits and long non-coding RNAs in patients with uterine myoma in search of targeted therapy
Authors:   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Levakov S.A. , Kaviladze M.G. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Deshchenko O.V. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Dzhafarova M.M. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Guseinova Sh.T. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Elmurzaeva E.A. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Khachukaeva A.S. ,   Clinic «Academy of Health», LLC, Nazran, Russian Federation, Rezekina A.I. ,   M.M.Shemyakin and Yu.A.Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, Petrosyan E.G. ,   M.M.Shemyakin and Yu.A.Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, Mazur D.V. ,   M.M.Shemyakin and Yu.A.Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, Antipova N.V. ,   M.M.Shemyakin and Yu.A.Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation,   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: February 2025

Clinical and morphological features of rapidly growing myomatous nodes, as well as their frequent combination with endometrial hyperplasia, endometriosis and functional ovarian cysts suggest that their development is due to disorders caused by sex steroids, realized through cell proliferation with impaired apoptosis, which requires a comprehensive approach both in treatment and in the recovery period.
Objective. To identify the correlation between the relative expression levels of the genes of different subunits of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) as well as long non-coding RNAs and the duration of myoma treatment, based on which the efficacy of epigenetic therapy could be evaluated.
Patients and methods. This study included 60 patients who were divided into three groups: group 1 – patients with uterine myoma who received epigenetic therapy for 3 months (n = 20), group 2 – patients with uterine myoma who received epigenetic therapy for 6 months (n = 20), group 3 – a control group, which included practically healthy individuals (n = 20). The dependence of relative expression levels of the genes of nAChR subunits and long non-coding RNAs (CASC2, HOTAIR, lnc-ROR and MALAT1) in myoma cells on the duration of epigenetic therapy was studied using a real-time PCR. The correlation between the gene expression of ribosomal protein paralogs RPL22 and RPL22L1 in myoma cells and the duration of epigenetic therapy was also evaluated using a standard PCR with agarose gel electrophoresis.
Results. The highest relative expression of α3 and β1 subunits was recorded in the control group; in contrast, the relative expression of α4, α6, α7 and α9 subunits in myoma cells was highest in group 1. The highest relative expression of α-9 subunit was noticed in myoma samples in group 2. The most likely candidates for the role of myoma markers could be α4, α6, α7, as their expression was quite high, and the maximum value belonged to one of the contrast groups.
Conclusion. Based on the findings, it can be assumed that long non-coding RNAs are more suitable for the role of markers than nAChR subunits. It can also be concluded that both paralogs are expressed in myoma cells, with two isoforms of RPL22L1 protein being modulated.
Key words: uterine myoma, long non-coding RNAs, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, gene expression of ribosomal protein paralogs RPL22 and RPL22L1