Proteomic Analysis of Pubocervical Fascia of Women with Urodynamic Stress Incontinence and Prolapse Compared to Asymptomatic Controls

Hypothesis / aims of study Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) are multifactorial diseases that negatively affect the quality of life of millions of women. The pathophysiology of these diseases is not fully elucidated. All previously examined tissue specimens from women with POP were examined with techniques that measured differences of expression of specific proteins directly (immunoflorescence microscopy, radioimmunoassay) or indirectly (quantitative real time PCR mRNA assessment). Gene studies of tissues from women with POP detected a number of candidate genes that could lead to altered pelvic support. [1] Whole genome microarrays were later used to identify genes involved with elastin metabolism in vaginal tissue from women with stress urinary incontinence without clinical POP. [2] Microarray analysis of 32878 genes from uterosacral and round ligament samples from women with POP and controls identified genes committed to Immunity and cellular Defense. [3] Gene profile of a specific tissue isn’t the same as protein profile. Proteomic analysis will help us define if genes identified by microarray analysis are also translated to functional proteins. To our knowledge, this is the first study in humans that uses the advanced methods of proteomics to investigate and compare the pattern of protein expression of pubocervical fascia in women with USI with or without POP versus asymptomatic controls.