Accumulation of Retinoid X Receptor-α in Uterine Leiomyomas Is Associated with a Delayed Ligand-Dependent Proteasome-Mediated Degradation and an Alteration of Its Transcriptional Activity

An alteration of the retinoid pathway can influence the development of uterine leiomyomas in animal models, and retinoids have shown efficacy in inhibiting the growth of this benign tumor both in vitro and in vivo. However, the underlying mechanisms and biological implications are unclear. The present study was based on the demonstration of an accumulation of full-length retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) in leiomyomas that was not associated with a modification of its gene expression. This accumulation was shown to increase the transcription of the RXR-responsive gene cellular retinoic acid binding protein II (CRABP-II) and to be linked to the cellular redistribution of the receptor and to its retarded degradation via the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. Accordingly, treatment with a specific proteasome inhibitor but not with protease inhibitors strongly inhibited the degradation of full-length RXRα in cells deriving from both myometrium and leiomyoma, but the formation of RXRα/ubiquitin conjugates was differenti...