A progesterone-induced endometrial homolog of a new candidate tumor suppressor, DMBT1.

We have previously prepared and characterized a subtracted library enriched for endometrial progesterone (P)-dependent genes in the rhesus monkey. One of the fragment clones (H3) that we selected for sequencing from this library was found to be homologous to human DMBT1, a recently isolated member of the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich superfamily and a new putative tumor suppressor. In this report, we provide evidence that H3 is the rhesus monkey homolog of DMBT1. Additional sequence data of H3 (1071 bp) showed a striking homology with DMBT1 (92% identical). Semiquantitative kinetic PCR of estrogen-dominant vs. P-dominant endometrial complementary DNA populations showed that the H3 gene was up-regulated 5-fold by normal secretory P levels. In situ hybridization with unique probes to H3 confirmed the up-regulation by P in the endometrium and a restricted expression in the stromal compartment. Another recent report suggested the presence of an endometrial tumor suppressor in the same chromosomal region as DMBT1 (10q23-26); deletions in this region were associated with endometrial cancers. Together, these studies potentially provide a molecular link to the protective effect of the action of P on unopposed estrogen exposure in reproductive tract cancers in women.