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Purpose: To depict the pattern of IAP signaling proteins controlling survival and/or apoptosis, and to investigate the impact of the following metabolic stimulii: ovarian steroids, estrogen and progesterone at challenge with Epidermal growth factor (EGF), and the potential of ARTS-derived (AIBM) peptides affecting growth and apoptosis of leiomyoma.

Methods: Paired cell cultures of leiomyoma and normal myometrium from premenopausal women undergoing hysterectomy were obtained. Western blot (WB) analysis, the Wilcoxon signed rank test, the Kolmogorov-Smirov (KS) nonparametric test, the Two Tailed Analysis and the Student t test were applied. Statistical significance was established at P<0.05.

Results: The Western blot (WB) results clearly demonstrate that the level of ARTS and Cas9 proteins was significantly higher in the leiomyoma cells compared with the myometrium. XIAP and Cas3 proteins level was similar in both cell cultures. Notably, exposure to estradiol at EGF challenge of the leiomyoma cells significantly decreased the level of ARTS and Cas9 proteins. Exposure to estradiol or progesterone separately, as well as to progesterone at challenge with EGF had no significant effect on the activity of IAP proteins of the leiomyoma cells. ARTS-derived peptides AIBM P1 and AIBM P3 affected growth of leiomyoma and myometrium cells in a dose and time dependent manner, with variability among the samples. The expression of IAP proteins of paired leiomyoma and myometrium cells treated with AIBM P1 and AIBM P3 was variable. At exposure to AIBM P3 the level of ARTS and Cas9 proteins was slightly higher in the leiomyoma cells compared to the myometrium cells, but not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Our results provide a clearer insight into IAP signaling proteins, response to ovarian steroids at challenge with EGF, and notably to ARTS-derived peptides affecting growth and apoptosis of leiomyoma cells.