REGIOSPECIFIC EXPRESSION OF CYTOCHROME P4501A1 AND 1B1 IN HUMAN UTERINE TISSUE

The goal of this study was to investigate the expression of these isof orms in different regions of the human uterus. Expression was determin ed in the endometrium (ENDO), endocervix (CERV) and squamous region (S R) from six non smoking women by using RT-PCR. The transcripts encodin g for CYP1A1 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the SR compared t o the other areas. However, the expression of CYP1B1 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the ENDO. CYP1B1 expression appeared to be extre mely low in a woman in the secretory stage of the menstrual phase, rel ative to the ENDO of the other patients who were all in the proliferat ive stage at hysterectomy, CYP1B1 mRNA was expressed in only two out o f six patients in the SR and in three out of five patients in the CERV . CYP1A1 was also uniformly expressed in the ENDO of all except one pa tient, whereas expression was minimal in the other regions. It is like ly that variability in the expression of these isoforms may be respons ible for the differential susceptibility to cancer in women, 1998 Publ ished by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.