Work

Candidate Biomarkers for Intrauterine Adhesions Identified by Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: The molecular mechanisms of intrauterine adhesions (IUA) are not yet fully understood, and there is a lack of specific diagnostic markers and effective molecularly targeted treatments in clinical practice. This study employed proteomic techniques to analyze differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and associated signaling pathways in pathological tissues, aiming to identify potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. Methods: This study collected 15 endometrial tissue samples from 10 patients treated at Changzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital from March 2022 to September 2022. The tissue samples were divided into 3 groups: the adhesion group (Adhes group), the peri-adhesion endometrial group (Endome group), and the control group (Control group). Pairwise comparisons of the three groups were performed. Label-free quantitative (LFQ) proteomics was used to identify DEPs, and bioinformatics analyses, such as the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Ontology (GO), and protein domain analysis, were employed to identify the functions and pathways of DEPs. Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) was used for the quantitative analysis of selected target proteins. Results: 1328, 290, and 1335 DEPs were found in the Adhes vs Control, Endome vs Control, and Adhes vs Endome groups, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis showed that these proteins are primarily involved in key processes such as muscle contraction, cytoskeletal dynamics balance, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and immune regulation. PRM validation identified out 14 target proteins, among which ADIPOQ, TGFB1, MYLK, and CAMK2G were closely associated with ECM remodeling and cytoskeletal regulation, while lactoferrin (LTF) was involved in immune regulation. Conclusions: This study identified a series of key proteins associated with IUA and found that they may participate in the disease process through mechanisms such as ECM remodeling, actin cytoskeleton regulation, and immune regulation. The identified target proteins (such as ADIPOQ, TGFB1, MYLK, and CAMK2G) provide potential biomarkers and intervention targets for the diagnosis and treatment of IUA.

Source: Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology

DOI: 10.31083/ceog27913

Authors: Feiyan Li, Congxin Zhu, Jingxuan Ye, Yiwen Ren, Yong Li

Institution: Nanjing Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Gynecological conditions and treatments

Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,500