TRIM9 overexpression promotes uterine leiomyoma cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis via NF-κB signaling pathway

Aims: Uterine leiomyoma (UM) is the most common benign gynecological tumor and the leading indication for hysterectomy. Our study explored the roles of TRIM9 in leiomyoma formation and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Material and methods: The relationship between TRIM9 expression and fibroids formation was deciphered from the GEO database after bioinformatics analysis and identified by qPCR in human leiomyoma tissues. Both TRIM9 mRNA and protein expression were further detected in primary cultured uterine leiomyoma cells (UMC). The tumorigenesis potentials of TRIM9 in cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell apoptosis; cyclin D1, survivin and cleaved-caspase 3 protein expressions in primary UMC with TRIM9 overexpression (UMC-oeTRIM9); and uterine smooth muscle cells (SMC) with TRIM9 knockdown (SMC-siTRIM9) were evaluated in vitro. NF-κB p65 and its phosphorylation were further examined by western blotting, and rescue experiments on cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell apoptosis were conducted.

Key findings: TRIM9 showed higher expression in UM tissue and UMC compared with normal myometrium. The overexpression of TRIM9 in UMC notably promoted UM growth via enhancement of cell proliferation, reduction of cell apoptosis, and regulation of cyclin D1, survivin, cleaved-caspase 3, and nuclear NF-κB expression, which were reversed in SMC-siTRIM9 and PDTC (an NF-κB inhibitor) intervention in UMC-oeTRIM9.

Significance: To our knowledge, this was the first study demonstrating the roles of TRIM9 in cell growth progression of UM development. TRIM9 may be a potential therapeutic target for UM, by promoting leiomyoma cell proliferation and reducing cell apoptosis via activation of the NF-κB pathway.