Genomic and proteomic profiling I: Leiomyomas in African Americans and Caucasians

Abstract

Abstract Background Clinical observations indicate that leiomyomas occur more frequently in African Americans compared to other ethnic groups with unknown etiology. To identify the molecular basis for the difference we compared leiomyomas form A. Americans with Caucasians using genomic and proteomic strategies. Methods Microarray, realtime PCR, 2D-PAGE, mass spectrometry, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results Using Affymetrix U133A array and analysis based on P ranking (P Conclusion These findings imply that the level rather than the ethnic-specific expression of a number of genes and proteins may account for the difference between leiomyomas and possibly myometrium, in A. Americans and Caucasians. Further study using larger sample size is required to confirm these findings.