Metabolomics approach using HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy for the assessment of metabolic profiles of uterine fibroids

The aim of this study is to determine dysregulated metabolites and metabolic pathways in uterine fibroids and in the myometrial tissue from which uterine fibroids are derived. Fifteen (15) patients underwent hysterectomy because of uterine fibroids and 14 controls were included in this study. ¹H HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy data were obtained from uterine fibroid tissue, the adjacent healthy myometrial tissue from cases, and myometrial tissue from controls. PCA and PLS-DA score plots from multivariate statistical analysis of pre-processed spectral data demonstrated a distinction between cases and control groups. The levels of lactate, alanine, glutamate, glutamine, methionine, acetone, isocitrate, choline, glycerophosphocholine, phosphocholine, o-phosphoethanolamine, taurine, myo-inositol, p-methylhistidine, phenylacetate, ascorbate, glucose, and methylhistidine were significantly higher in uterine fibroid tissue compared to the neighboring healthy myometrial tissue. Additionally, when adjacent healthy myometrial tissue was compared to control myometrial tissue, significantly lower levels of valine, leucine, isoleucine, ethanol, arginine, N-acetyl tyrosine, acetone, p-methylhistidine, glucose, phenylacetate, myo-inositol, and alpha-glucose were observed. The study provides a foundational framework by revealing the metabolomic heterogeneity of uterine fibroids. Strategies should be developed to target the metabolic alterations that contribute to the growth of these common tumors.