DETECTION OF EBAF, A NOVEL HUMAN GENE OF THE TRANSFORMING-GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA SUPERFAMILY - ASSOCIATION OF GENE-EXPRESSION WITH ENDOMETRIAL BLEEDING

Human endometrium is unique since it is the only tissue in the body th at bleeds at regular intervals. In addition, abnormal endometrial blee ding is one of the most common manifestations of gynecological disease s, and is a prime indication for hysterectomy, Here, we report on a no vel human gene, endometrial bleeding associated factor (ebaf), whose s trong expression in endometrium was associated with abnormal endometri al bleeding, In normal human endometrium, this gene was transiently ex pressed before and during menstrual bleeding, In situ hybridization sh owed that the mRNA of ebaf was expressed in the stroma without any sig nificant mRNA expression in the endometrial glands or endothelial cell s, The predicted protein sequence of ebaf showed homology with and str uctural features of the members of TGF-beta superfamily, Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the ebaf gene is located on human ch romosome 1 at band q42.1. Thus, ebaf is a novel member of the TGF-beta superfamily and an endometrial tissue factor whose expression is asso ciated with normal menstrual and abnormal endometrial bleeding.