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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2009 Jun 15.
Published in final edited form as: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Apr;198(4):474.e1–474.11. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2007.11.057

Figure 7. Model of altered mechanical stress in leiomyoma cells.

Figure 7

Leiomyoma cells are under increased mechanical stress compared to myometrial cells. The extracellular matrix is abnormal in content and structure. Mechanical load is associated with alteration in actin organization as well as Rho-GEF expression (AKAP13). There is evidence for activation of stress-activated kinases, such as p38MAPK (pp38).