How a specific kinase affects uterine fibroids
Author Information
Author(s): Khadka Subash, Lukas Brandon, Sun Claire Xin, Muralimanoharan Sribalasubashini, Shanmugasundaram Karthigayan, Khosh Azad, Schenken Claire, Stansbury Nicholas, Schenken Robert, Firestein Ron, Dai Yang, Boyer Thomas
Hypothesis
Pharmacologic inhibition of CDK8/19 in myometrial stem cells will trigger their differentiation into tumor initiating cells characteristic of uterine fibroids.
Conclusion
Inhibiting CDK8/19 in myometrial stem cells leads to changes that promote the development of uterine fibroids.
Supporting Evidence
- Uterine fibroids are the most common non-cutaneous tumors in women worldwide.
- Mutations in the RNA polymerase II Mediator subunit MED12 are dominant drivers of uterine fibroids.
- Inhibition of CDK8/19 removes a barrier to myogenic differentiation in myometrial stem cells.
Takeaway
Scientists found that blocking a certain protein in stem cells can help them turn into cells that cause uterine fibroids, which are common tumors in women.
Methodology
Pharmacologic inhibition of CDK8/19 was used to study its effects on myometrial stem cells.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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