Fig. 1.

More DNA damage, an impaired DNA repair capacity, accumulated and less VDR expression in human uterine fibroids compared with the adjacent myometrium from African American patients. Protein lysates were prepared from cultured primary cells (n = 3) isolated from 3 African American (AA) patient (Pt) fibroids (F) and matched myometrial tissues (M). The protein expression of the DNA damage marker γ-H2AX (a) and VDR (b) were determined by Western blot analysis, and relative values were used to generate the corresponding data graph. c The homologous recombination DNA damage response markers RAD50, NBS1 and MRE11 were determined by Western blot analysis. d The protein levels of CHECK2, BRCA1 and RAD51 were determined by Western blot analysis. e The intensity of each band from c and d was quantified and normalized to the corresponding β-actin, and relative values were used to generate the data graph. Normalized values of F relative to M are presented in the graph as the mean ± SD. All experiments were repeated twice. f Immunohistochemical staining of the DNA repair marker RAD51 in matched F and M tissues from AA patients (n = 4, magnification 20 × ). g Immunohistochemical staining of the DNA repair marker RAD51 in matched F and M tissues from AA patients (n = 4, magnification 65 × ). h Semi-quantitative intensity and frequency scores of RAD51 in the evaluated tissues presented as the median ± range. *P < 0.05,  ***P < 0.001