miR-205-5p inhibits human endometriosis progression by targeting ANGPT2 in endometrial stromal cells

PDLIM3 knockdown promotes ferroptosis in endometriosis progression via inducing Gli1 degradation and blocking Hedgehog signaling pathway

AIMS

Current evidence suggests that there is no completely effective method for endometriosis (EMS) without trauma due to diverse adverse effects. Reliable evidence illustrates that inhibiting ferroptosis is a potential strategy for EMS. We sufficiently verified that the expression of endogenous protein PDZ and LIM domain 3 (PDLIM3) was significantly increased in EMS.

METHODS

PDLIM3 knockdown reduced primary ectopic endometrial stromal cells' (EESCs) viability and migration, and elevated ferroptosis signaling indicators including Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in EESCs.

RESULTS

Mechanistic studies revealed that inhibition of PDLIM3 accelerated glioma-associated oncogene-1 (Gli1) degradation and further deactivated Hedgehog signaling. Gli1 inhibitor, GANT61, abrogated the impact of PDLIM3 deletion on EESC growth, migration, and ferroptosis. In vivo experiments suggested that PDLIM3 reduction repressed the growth of endometrial lesions. Likewise, repression of PDLIM3 promoted ferroptosis and attenuated Hedgehog signaling in endometrial lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, silencing of PDLIM3 facilitates ferroptosis in EMS by inducing Gli1 degradation and blocking Hedgehog signaling. It may provide an alternative strategy for developing therapeutic agents of EMS in the future.

MiRNAs related in signaling pathways of women's reproductive diseases: an overview

BACKGROUND

One of the main health issues that can affect women's health is reproductive diseases, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis (EMs), uterine leiomyomas (ULs), and ovarian cancer (OC). Although these diseases are very common, we do not have a complete understanding of their underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. It is important to mention that the majority of patients are diagnosed with these diseases at later stages because of the absence of early diagnostic techniques and dependable molecular indicators. Hence, it is crucial to discover novel and non-invasive biomarkers that have prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. MiRNAs, also known as microRNAs, are small non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. They are short in length, typically consisting of around 22 nucleotides, and are highly conserved across species. Numerous studies have shown that miRNAs are expressed differently in various diseases and can act as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors.

METHODS

The author conducted a comprehensive review of all the pertinent papers available in web of science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases.

RESULTS

We achieved three goals: providing readers with better information, enhancing search results, and making peer review easier.

CONCLUSIONS

This review focuses on the investigation of miRNAs and their involvement in various reproductive disorders in women, including their molecular targets. Additionally, it explores the role of miRNAs in the development and progression of these disorders.

The Pathological Role of miRNAs in Endometriosis

Association studies investigating miRNA in relation to diseases have consistently shown significant alterations in miRNA expression, particularly within inflammatory pathways, where they regulate inflammatory cytokines, transcription factors (such as NF-κB, STAT3, HIF1α), and inflammatory proteins (including COX-2 and iNOS). Given that endometriosis (EMS) is characterized as an inflammatory disease, albeit one influenced by estrogen levels, it is natural to speculate about the connection between EMS and miRNA. Recent research has indeed confirmed alterations in the expression levels of numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) in both endometriotic lesions and the eutopic endometrium of women with EMS, when compared to healthy controls. The undeniable association of miRNAs with EMS hints at the emergence of a new era in the study of miRNA in the context of EMS. This article reviews the advancements made in understanding the pathological role of miRNA in EMS and its association with EMS-associated infertility. These findings contribute to the ongoing pursuit of developing miRNA-based therapeutics and diagnostic markers for EMS.

Knockdown of miR-27a reduces TGFβ-induced EMT and H2O2-induced oxidative stress through regulating mitochondrial autophagy

OBJECTIVES

The present research aimed at clarifying the role played by miR-27a in the context of intrauterine adhesion (IUA) by focusing on its impact on TGFβ1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial autophagy in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs).

METHODS

We employed the Cell Counting Kit CCK-8/WST-8 assay to assess ESC proliferation, flow cytometric analysis and an Annexin-V-FITCV-FITC Apoptosis Detection kit to determine cell apoptosis, and wound healing and transwell assays to evaluate cell migration. Besides, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels measured by the Reactive Oxygen Species Assay Kit were analyzed by flow cytometry, and protein expression levels were quantified by Western blotting analysis.

RESULTS

Knockdown of miR-27a inhibited TGFβ1-induced EMT and H2O2-induced oxidative stress in ESCs. H2O2-induced miR-27a suppressed PINK1 expression, leading to inhibition of mitophagy. MiR-27a promoted TGFβ1 or H2O2-induced EMT through PINK1.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-27a plays a crucial role in endometrial fibrosis. It regulates TGFβ1-induced EMT, migration, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in ESCs. Additionally, miR-27a impacts mitophagy through PINK1 suppression upon H2O2 induction. Our findings highlight miR-27a as a potential therapeutic target for IUA treatment, shedding light on its multifaceted involvement in the mechanism of intrauterine adhesion fibrosis.

MiR-17-5p promoter methylation regulated by DNA methyltransferase 3 beta (DNMT3B) expedites endometriosis via the Krüppel-like factor 12 (KLF12)/Wnt/β-catenin axis

Endometriosis (EM) is a common chronic disease in women with a high incidence, and aberrant DNA methylation and circulating endometrial cells (CECs) have been reported to be involved in the development of EM. However, the underlying mechanisms by which DNA methylation regulates EM progression have not been fully elucidated. In our study, we demonstrated that the DNA methyltransferase 3 beta (DNMT3B)-mediated DNA methylation modification enhanced EM progression through regulating miR-17-5p/KLF12/Wnt/β-catenin axis. In detail, expression levels of miR-17-5p were significantly downregulated in EM tissues and serums, and we found that DNMT3B elevated the methylation modification of the miR-17-5p promoter, thereby suppressing the expression of miR-17-5p. Subsequently, functional experiments showed that silencing DNMT3B inhibited cell viability and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promoted cell apoptosis in CECs, whereas this effect could be reversed by knocking down miR-17-5p. Besides, overexpression of miR-17-5p repressed EM progression in vivo. Moreover, we found that miR-17-5p could target negative regulation of Krüppel-like factor 12 (KLF12) and KLF12 overexpression could rescue the effect of over-miR-17-5p. Besides, miR-17-5p was able to suppress the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and blocked Wnt/β-catenin pathway by XAV-939 reversed the influence of knockdown of miR-17-5p. Overall, our data indicated that DNMT3B-mediated DNA methylation leading to miR-17-5p inhibition exacerbated the process of EM by targeting KLF12/Wnt/β-catenin axis, which provided a new perspective on targeted therapies for EM.

Nucleocytoplasmic transport of active HER2 causes fractional escape from the DCIS-like state

Activation of HER2/ErbB2 coincides with escape from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) premalignancy and disrupts 3D organization of cultured breast-epithelial spheroids. The 3D phenotype is infrequent, however, and mechanisms for its incomplete penetrance have been elusive. Using inducible HER2/ErbB2-EGFR/ErbB1 heterodimers, we match phenotype penetrance to the frequency of co-occurring transcriptomic changes and uncover a reconfiguration in the karyopherin network regulating ErbB nucleocytoplasmic transport. Induction of the exportin CSE1L inhibits nuclear accumulation of ErbBs, whereas nuclear ErbBs silence the importin KPNA1 by inducing miR-205. When these negative feedbacks are incorporated into a validated systems model of nucleocytoplasmic transport, steady-state localization of ErbB cargo becomes ultrasensitive to initial CSE1L abundance. Erbb2-driven carcinomas with Cse1l deficiency outgrow less irregularly from mammary ducts, and NLS-attenuating mutants or variants of HER2 favor escape in 3D culture. We conclude here that adaptive nucleocytoplasmic relocalization of HER2 creates a systems-level molecular switch at the premalignant-to-malignant transition.

circPLOD2 knockdown suppresses endometriosis progression via the miR-216a-5p/ZEB1 axis

The present study aimed to identify the role of circPLOD2 in endometriosis and its underlying mechanisms. We determined circPLOD2 and miR-216a-5p expression in ectopic endometrial (EC) and eutopic endometrial (EU) samples as well as in endometrial samples from uterine fibroids of ectopic patients (EN) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) using qRT-PCR. The association between circPLOD2 and miR-216a-5p or miR-216a-5p and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) expression was analyzed using Starbase, TargetScan, and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. Cell viability, apoptosis, and migration and invasion were assessed using MTT, flow cytometry, and transwell assays, respectively. In addition, qRT-PCR and western blotting was used to measure circPLOD2, miR-216a-5p, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and ZEB1 expression. circPLOD2 was upregulated and miR-216a-5p was downregulated in EC samples compared with that in EU samples. Similar trends were observed in ESCs. circPLOD2 interacted and negatively regulated miR-216a-5p expression in EC-ESCs. circPLOD2-siRNA significantly inhibited EC-ESC growth; promoted cellular apoptosis; and inhibited EC-ESC migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition; these effects could be reversed following miR-216a-5p inhibitor transfection. miR-216a-5p directly targeted and negatively regulated ZEB1 expression in EC-ESCs. In conclusion, circPLOD2 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of EC-ESCs and inhibits their apoptosis by targeting miR-216a-5p. These findings indicate potential therapeutic targets for endometriosis.

LncRNA IGF2-AS promotes endometriosis progression through targeting miR-370-3p/IGF2 axis and activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

PURPOSE

Endometriosis, a gynecological disease, is difficult to be cured. Currently, to identify more potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of endometriosis is urgently needed. Insulin like growth factor 2 (IGF2) has been revealed to correlate with endometriosis. This research aimed to further explore the role of IGF2 and its up-stream mechanism in endometriosis.

METHODS

Primary ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs) were extracted from ectopic endometrial tissues which were pathological endometrial tissues resected from three patients with II-III endometriosis. Primary normal endometrial stromal cells (NESCs) were extracted from normal endometrial tissues of two patients with grade III cervical dysplasia and one patient with uterine leiomyoma III. Four endometriotic cell lines (EEC145T, hEM15A, hEM5B2, and 12Z) and normal human endometrial epithelial cells (hEECs) were purchased. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated through functional assays. The molecular interaction between RNAs was investigated through mechanistic analyses.

RESULTS

We discovered that IGF2 was upregulated in purchased endometriotic cells and primary EESC. Suppression of IGF2 hampered cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, insulin-like growth factor 2 antisense RNA (IGF2-AS) was uncovered to positively regulate IGF2 expression and enhanced proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of endometriotic cells. Mechanistically, miR-370-3p was found to bind with IGF2-AS and IGF2. IGF2-AS competitively bind with miR-370-3p to upregulate IGF2. Furthermore, IGF2-AS was revealed to activate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway through targeting miR-370-3p/IGF2 axis.

CONCLUSION

IGF2-AS promotes endometriotic cell growth via regulating IGF2/miR-370-3p axis and further activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Roles of microRNAs in Regulating Apoptosis in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a gynecologic disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial tissues outside the uterine cavity affecting reproductive-aged women. Previous studies have shown that microRNAs and their target mRNAs are expressed differently in endometriosis, suggesting that this molecule may play a role in the development and persistence of endometriotic lesions. microRNA (miRNA), a small non-coding RNA fragment, regulates cellular functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis by the post-transcriptional modulation of gene expression. In this review, we focused on the dysregulated miRNAs in women with endometriosis and their roles in the regulation of apoptosis. The dysregulated miRNAs and their target genes in this pathophysiology were highlighted. Circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of endometriosis have also been identified. As shown by various studies, miRNAs were reported to be a potent regulator of gene expression in endometriosis; thus, identifying the dysregulated miRNAs and their target genes could help discover new therapeutic targets for treating this disease. The goal of this review is to draw attention to the functions that miRNAs play in the pathophysiology of endometriosis, particularly those that govern cell death.

Integrated bioinformatic analysis of dysregulated microRNA-mRNA co-expression network in ovarian endometriosis

INTRODUCTION

Ovarian endometriosis is a frequently occurring gynecological disease with large socioeconomic impact. Accumulating evidence has suggested that aberrant miRNA-mRNA interactions are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of ovarian endometriosis. This study aims to identify key miRNAs in ovarian endometriosis by using integrated bioinformatic analysis of a dysregulated miRNA-mRNA co-expression network.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Expression profiling of miRNA and mRNA in three normal endometria and five pairs of ectopic/eutopic endometria from patients with ovarian endometriosis was determined by high-throughput sequencing techniques. The data were then integrated with the public sequencing datasets (GSE105764 and GSE105765) using a non-biased approach and a miRNA-mRNA co-expression regulatory network was constructed by in-depth bioinformatic analysis.

RESULTS

The constructed miRNA-mRNA network included 87 functionally DEMs, 482 target mRNAs and 1850 paired miRNA-mRNA regulatory interactions. Specifically, five miRNAs (miR-141-3p, miR-363-3p, miR-577, miR-767-5p, miR-96-5p) were gradually decreased and two miRNAs (miR-493-5p, miR-592) were gradually increased from normal endometria to eutopic endometria, and then ectopic endometria tissues. Importantly, miR-141-3p, miR-363-3p and miR-96-5p belonged to the miR-200 family, miR-106a-363 cluster and miR-183/96/182 cluster, respectively. Their target mRNAs were mainly associated with cell adhesion, locomotion and binding, which are suggested to play vital regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of ovarian endometriosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrated bioinformatic analysis of the miRNA-mRNA co-expression network defines the crucial roles of the miR-200 family, miR-106a-363 cluster and miR-183/96/182 cluster in the pathogenesis of ovarian endometriosis. Further in-depth functional studies are needed to unveil the molecular mechanisms of these miRNAs, and may provide clues for the optimization of therapeutic strategies for ovarian endometriosis.

HOXB5‑activated ANGPT2 promotes the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenic effect of esophageal cancer cells via activating ERK/AKT signaling pathway

Esophageal cancer, which is the eighth most common cancer worldwide, has a poor prognosis and high mortality rate. The present study was designed to investigate the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenic effect of the homeobox B5 (HOXB5)/angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) interplay in esophageal cancer. The relative expression of ANGPT2 and HOXB5 in esophageal cancer and the association between gene expression was evaluated using data from Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis databases. Following transduction of short hairpin RNA-ANGPT2#1/2 plasmids, ANGPT2 was silenced. Viability, proliferation and invasion of esophageal cancer cells were assessed using CCK-8, 5-EdU, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Moreover, the transcriptional activity of ANGPT2 and angiogenesis were detected with luciferase reporter, chromatin immunoprecipitation (CH-IP) and tube formation assays. The results of the present study indicated that ANGPT2 was upregulated, both in esophageal cancer cell lines and tissue and there was an association between the ANGPT2 upregulation and the poor patient prognosis. In addition, ANGPT2 silencing suppressed esophageal cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis. The HOXB5 expression was also increased in esophageal cancer, and transcriptionally activated ANGPT2. Moreover, HOXB5 overexpression reversed the effects of ANGPT2 silencing in esophageal cancer cells. Furthermore, ANGPT2 silencing inactivated ERK/AKT signaling, whereas the HOXB5 overexpression blocked this effect. In conclusion, ANGPT2, which was transcriptionally activated by HOXB5, activated the ERK/AKT signaling pathway to promote proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis of esophageal cancer cells.

siRNA knockdown of Angiopoietin 2 significantly reduces neovascularization in diabetic rats

Diabetes is a disease that leads to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), which is associated with an increase of new vessels formation due to an overexpression of angiogenic factors, such as angiopoietin 2 (ANGPT2). The aim of this work was to design a siRNA targeting ANGPT2 to decrease the retinal neovascularization associated with PDR. Adult male Wistar rats weighing 325-375 g were used. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg i.p.). The siRNAs were designed, synthesized and administered intravitreally at the beginning of diabetes induction (t₀), and after 4 weeks of diabetes evolution (t₄), subsequently evaluated the retinal neovascularization (junctions and lacunarity) and ANGPT2 expression in the retina by RT-PCR, after 4 weeks of the siRNAs administration. The results showed that the administration of STZ produced significantly increases in blood glucose levels, retinal neovascularization (augmented junctions and lower lacunarity) and ANGPT2 expression, while the administration the ANGPT2-siRNAs at different groups (t₀ and t₄) reduces the junctions and increases the lacunarity in diabetic rats. Therefore, we conclude that the administration of siRNAs targeting ANGPT2 could be an option to decrease the retinal neovascularization associated with PDR and halt the progression of blindness caused by diabetes.

MiR-143-3p facilitates motility and invasiveness of endometriotic stromal cells by targeting VASH1/TGF-β signaling

Endometriosis is a benign gynecological disease. Accumulating evidence has revealed the participation of dysregulated miRNAs in the progression of endometriosis. Here, the function and molecular mechanism of miR-143-3p in endometriosis were investigated. The levels of vasohibin 1 (VASH1) and miR-143-3p in endometrial tissues and endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs) were detected by RT-qPCR. Migrative and invasive phenotypes of ESCs were tested by Transwell assays. The protein expression of VASH1, TGF-β signaling markers, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers was examined by western blotting. The targeted relationship between miR-143-3p and VASH1 was confirmed by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay. We found that miR-143-3p expression was significantly upregulated in ectopic endometrial tissues compared to that in eutopic and normal endometrial tissues. MiR-143-3p knockdown restrained EMT process, invasive and migrative behaviors of ESCs. Mechanically, miR-143-3p targeted VASH1 and negatively regulated VASH1. VASH1 downregulation reserved the effects of miR-143-3p knockdown in ESCs. MiR-143-3p activated TGF-β signaling via targeting VASH1. Furthermore, activation of TGF-β signaling counteracted the miR-143-3p knockdown-caused suppression of migration, invasion and EMT process in ESCs. Overall, miR-143-3p activates TGF-β signaling by targeting VASH1 to facilitate migration and invasion of ESCs.

Restoration of miR-223-3p expression in aged mouse uteri with Samul-tang administration

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

miR-205-5p in exosomes divided from chondrogenic mesenchymal stem cells alleviated rheumatoid arthritis via regulating MDM2 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role and mechanism of chondrogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)-derived exosomes on Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

The chondrogenesis of BMSCs was induced by chondrogenic medium. Exosomes from BMSCs and chondrogenic BMSCs were isolated and characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), laser particle size analyzer and western blot. ELISA was used to analyze the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Western bolt was performed to assess MAPK and NF-κB pathways expression. The inflammation score and the pathological damage of RA mice were evaluated. Luciferase reporter assay and RIP were carried out to examine the relationship between microRNA-205-5p (miR-205-5p) and mouse double minute 2 (MDM2).

RESULTS

Chondrogenic BMSCs-derived exosomes suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines, MMPs and MAPK and NF-κB pathways in RA-FLSs. miR-205-5p had a high expression in chondrogenic BMSCs-derived exosomes. Functionally, exosomal miR-205-5p also played the anti-inflammation effects. Besides, MDM2 was a direct target of miR-205-5p. Additionally, chondrogenic BMSCs-secreted exosomal miR-205-5p suppressed the inflammation score, joint destruction, and inflammatory response in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice through MDM2.

CONCLUSION

Chondrogenic BMSCs-derived exosomal miR-205-5p suppressed inflammatory response, MAPK and NF-κB pathways through MDM2 in RA, indicating exosomal miR-205-5p might be a potential target for RA treatment.

microRNAs in female infertility: An overview

Infertility impacts a considerable number of women worldwide, and it affects different aspects of family life and society. Although female infertility is known as a multifactorial disorder, there are strong genetic and epigenetic bases. Studies revealed that miRNAs play critical roles in initiation and development of female infertility related disorders. Early diagnosis and control of these diseases is an essential key for improving disease prognosis and reducing the possibility of infertility and other side effects. Investigating the possible use of miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic options is valuable, and it merits attention. Thus, in this article, we reviewed research associated with female diseases and highlighted microRNAs that are related to the polycystic ovary syndrome (up to 30 miRNAs), premature ovarian failure (10 miRNAs), endometriosis (up to 15 miRNAs), uterine fibroids (up to 15 miRNAs), endometrial polyp (3 miRNAs), and pelvic inflammatory (6 miRNAs), which are involved in one or more ovarian or uterine disease-causing processes.

New Therapeutics in Endometriosis: A Review of Hormonal, Non-Hormonal, and Non-Coding RNA Treatments

Endometriosis is defined as endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. It is a chronic inflammatory estrogen-dependent disease causing pain and infertility in about 10% of women of reproductive age. Treatment nowadays consists of medical and surgical therapies. Medical treatments are based on painkillers and hormonal treatments. To date, none of the medical treatments have been able to cure the disease and symptoms recur as soon as the medication is stopped. The development of new biomedical targets, aiming at the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for endometriosis, is needed. This article summarizes the most recent medications under investigation in endometriosis treatment with an emphasis on non-coding RNAs that are emerging as key players in several human diseases, including cancer and endometriosis.

Circular RNA circZFPM2 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in endometriosis by regulating miR-205-5p/ZEB1 signalling pathway

Endometriosis is a debilitating gynecological disease affecting millions of women worldwide, but its exact pathogenesis remains unclear. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been demonstrated to be important regulators in multiple diseases. Nonetheless, the potential regulatory mechanism of aberrant circRNA expression in endometriosis has been elusive. The up-regulated circZFPM2 in ectopic endometrial tissues was previously screened by circRNA high-throughput sequencing and was furtherly validated by quantitative real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Overexpression of circZFPM2 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in Ishikawa and End1/E6E7 cells, whereas silencing circZFPM2 produced the opposite effect. Luciferase reporter assays validated that circZFPM2 could directly target miR-205-5p and miR-205-5p target ZEB1. RT-qPCR results showed that miR-205-5p was underexpressed while ZEB1 was overexpressed in ectopic endometrial tissues compared with their expression in eutopic endometria and non-endometriosis control endometria. The expression level of miR-205-5p was inversely proportional and that of ZEB1 was directly proportional with the proliferative, migrative, and invasive ability of endometrial cells. Further in vitro investigation indicated that miR-205-5p could inhibit EMT by targeting ZEB1. Subsequent rescue experiments confirmed that circZFPM2 could induce EMT and promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion cascades through the miR-205-5p /ZEB1 signaling pathway. Conclusively, circZFPM2 may present a promising biomarker in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.

Role of repressed microRNAs in endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common, estrogen-dependent benign tumor that affect 3-10% women of reproductive age, and is characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial tissue, which is found primarily in the rectovaginal septum, ovaries, and pelvic peritoneum. To date, accumulating evidence suggests that various epigenetic aberrations, including the expression of aberrant microRNAs (miRNAs), play definite roles in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. This review summarizes the recent findings on the aberrantly repressed miRNAs, as well as their potential roles regarding the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

miR-205 and HMGB1 expressions in chronic periodontitis patients and their associations with the inflammatory factors

OBJECTIVE

This paper sets out to investigate the miR-205 and HMGB1 expressions in chronic periodontitis (PO) patients and their associations with the inflammatory factors.

METHODS

From February 2016 to May 2018, 68 PO patients treated in our hospital were recruited for the study and placed in a patient group (PG), and 60 healthy volunteers were also recruited and placed in a healthy group (HG). Serum samples were collected from both groups for the identification of miR-205 using qPCR, as well as to determine the HMGB1 and inflammatory factor (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) expression levels using ELISA. The correlations of the miR-205 and HMGB1 expression levels with the periodontal clinical indicators and the inflammatory factors were analyzed using a correlation analysis.

RESULTS

In comparison with the HG expression, the serum miR-205 expression was lower, and the HMGB1 was elevated in PG (P < 0.05). An ROC curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve (AUCs) of the serum miR-205 and HMGB1 expressions in diagnosing PO were 0.936 and 0.955 respectively. However, the serum miR-205 expression in PG increased while the HMGB1 expression decreased post treatment (P < 0.05). A correlation analysis revealed an inverse association between the serum miR-205 expression levels and the periodontal clinical indicators [bleeding index (BI), probing depth (PD), plaque index (PLI), and attachment loss (AL)], and the inflammatory factors [interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)], but there was a positive association between the HMGB1 expression level and these parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-205 and HMGB1 are closely related to the progression of PO, and may be candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of PO.

Role of miRNAs in Normal Endometrium and in Endometrial Disorders: Comprehensive Review

The molecular responses to hormonal stimuli in the endometrium are modulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional stages. Any imbalance in cellular and molecular endometrial homeostasis may lead to gynecological disorders. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in a wide variety of physiological mechanisms and their expression patterns in the endometrium are currently attracting a lot of interest. miRNA regulation could be hormone dependent. Conversely, miRNAs could regulate the action of sexual hormones. Modifications to miRNA expression in pathological situations could either be a cause or a result of the existing pathology. The complexity of miRNA actions and the diversity of signaling pathways controlled by numerous miRNAs require rigorous analysis and findings need to be interpreted with caution. Alteration of miRNA expression in women with endometriosis has been reported. Thus, a potential diagnostic test supported by a specific miRNA signature could contribute to early diagnosis and a change in the therapeutic paradigm. Similarly, specific miRNA profile signatures are expected for RIF and endometrial cancer, with direct implications for associated therapies for RIF and adjuvant therapies for endometrial cancer. Advances in targeted therapies based on the regulation of miRNA expression are under evaluation.

MiR-205 is up-regulated in islets of diabetes-susceptible mice and targets the diabetes gene Tcf7l2

AIM

MicroRNAs play an important role in the maintenance of cellular functions by fine-tuning gene expression levels. The aim of the current study was to identify genetically caused changes in microRNA expression which associate with islet dysfunction in diabetic mice.

METHODS

To identify novel microRNAs involved in islet dysfunction, transcriptome and miRNome analyses were performed in islets of obese, diabetes-susceptible NZO and diabetes-resistant B6-ob/ob mice and results combined with quantitative trait loci (QTL) and functional in vitro analysis.

RESULTS

In islets of NZO and B6-ob/ob mice, 94 differentially expressed microRNAs were detected, of which 11 are located in diabetes QTL. Focusing on conserved microRNAs exhibiting the strongest expression difference and which have not been linked to islet function, miR-205-5p was selected for further analysis. According to transcriptome data and target prediction analyses, miR-205-5p affects genes involved in Wnt and calcium signalling as well as insulin secretion. Over-expression of miR-205-5p in the insulinoma cell line INS-1 increased insulin expression, left-shifted the glucose-dependence of insulin secretion and supressed the expression of the diabetes gene TCF7L2. The interaction between miR-205-5p and TCF7L2 was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay.

CONCLUSION

MiR-205-5p was identified as relevant microRNA involved in islet dysfunction by interacting with TCF7L2.

hsa-miR-199a-3p Inhibits Motility, Invasiveness, and Contractility of Ovarian Endometriotic Stromal Cells

It is suggested that aberrantly expressed microRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Our previous study demonstrated that expression of the microRNA hsa-miR-199a-3p is attenuated in human endometriotic cyst stromal cells (ECSCs). The current study aimed to define the roles of hsa-miR-199a-3p in the development of endometriosis. ECSCs and normal endometrial stromal cells (NESCs) were isolated from ovarian endometrioma and normal endometrial tissues, respectively. We evaluated the effect of transfected hsa-miR-199a-3p on the migration, invasion, and contractility of ECSCs using Transwell migration assays, in vitro wound healing assays, Transwell invasion assays, and collagen gel contraction assays. We also examined the downstream target of hsa-miR-199a-3p with an online public database search and luciferase reporter assay. Expression of hsa-miR-199a-3p in ECSCs was significantly lower than that in NESCs, whereas the expression of p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) mRNA was significantly higher. Transfection of hsa-miR-199a-3p inhibited the migration, invasion, and contractility of ECSCs via inhibition of PAK4 mRNA expression. PAK4 was confirmed to be the direct target of hsa-miR-199a-3p. Transfection of PAK4 small interfering RNA and the PAK4 inhibitor PF-3758309 also inhibited ECSC migration, invasion, and contractility. These findings suggest that hsa-miR-199a-3p may act as a tumor suppressor in endometriosis development. Attenuation of hsa-miR-199a-3p expression was favorable for ECSCs to acquire the highly invasive, motile, and contractile characteristics of endometriotic cells and is involved in the development of endometriosis. Accordingly, PAK4 inhibitors may be promising for the treatment of endometriosis.

MiR-543 Inhibits the Migration and Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition of TGF-β-Treated Endometrial Stromal Cells via the MAPK and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathways

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) is one of the most prevalent reproductive system diseases in females. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are reported to be master regulators in a variety of diseases, including IUA, but the role of microRNA-543 (miR-543) in IUA remains to be elucidated. In this study, we observed that miR-543 was downregulated in transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-treated endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). Functionally, we observed that miR-543 suppressed the migration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and inhibited expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in TGF-β-treated ESCs. Mechanistically, MAPK1 is targeted by miR-543 after prediction and screening. A luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that miR-543 complementarily binds with the 3' untranslated region of mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), and western blot analysis indicated that miR-543 negatively regulates MAPK1 protein levels. In addition, results from rescue assays showed that miR-543 inhibits the migration and EMT of TGF-β-treated ESCs by targeting MAPK1. In addition, we observed that miR-543 inactivates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway through inhibiting the phosphorylation of MAPK1 and β-catenin. Finally, we confirmed that miR-543 represses migration, EMT and inhibits levels of ECM proteins in TGF-β-treated ESCs by targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our results demonstrated that miR-543 suppresses migration and EMT of TGF-β-treated ESCs by targeting the MAPK and Wnt/β-catenin pathways.

MicroRNA variants in endometriosis and its severity

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are naturally occurring posttranscriptional regulatory molecules that potentially play a role in endometriotic lesion development.Method: We evaluated the prevalence of miRNAs variants miR-146a rs2910164, miR-149 rs2292832, miR-196a2 rs11614913, and miR-499 rs3746444 in endometriosis in 260 cases and 260 controls. DNA was extracted and genotyping of the SNPs was carried out by PCR.Results: There was a significant association of rs2910164 and rs2292832 with increased rates of endometriosis under the dominant (p < 0.001), recessive (p < 0.05), co-dominant (p < 0.001), and allelic model (p < 0.001). Also, rs3746444 showed a borderline association with endometriosis under the recessive model (p = 0.05); however, rs11614913 was not linked to endometriosis. Further analysis indicated the significant association of miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism genotypes (GG, GC, and CC) and miR-149 rs2292832 genotypes (CC and CT) with endometriosis severity in patients (p < 0.001). Additionally, haplotype frequency in cases compared to controls and Linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the mentioned SNPs was appraised.Conclusion: MiR-146a, miR-149 and miR-499 may have a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

LINC01116 promotes proliferation and migration of endometrial stromal cells by targeting FOXP1 via sponging miR-9-5p in endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common multi-factorial gynaecological disease. Recent studies have revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In the present study, the expression profiles of lncRNAs in 6 pairs of endometriosis ectopic endometrium (ecEM) and eutopic endometrium (euEM) tissues were analysed by RNA sequencing. From the profiles, LINC01116 was found to be up-regulated in ecEM tissues compared to euEM tissues and was verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Then, functional experiments demonstrated that LINC01116 promoted the proliferation and migration of ectopic primary endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), while miR-9-5p exerted the opposite effects. Dual-luciferase reporter assays verified that LINC01116 directly sponged miR-9-5p and relieved the suppression of its target, Forkhead box protein P1 (FOXP1). Rescue experiments further demonstrated that LINC01116 could promote proliferation and migration of ESCs by targeting FOXP1 via sponging miR-9-5p. Overall, our study illuminates that LINC01116 promotes the progression of endometriosis through the miR-9-5p/FOXP1 axis. This finding provides a novel therapeutic target for patients with endometriosis.

LINC01018 and SMIM25 sponged miR-182-5p in endometriosis revealed by the ceRNA network construction

The current study intended to explore the interaction of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA) under the background of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in endometriosis (EMs). The differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs), differentially expressed lncRNA (DELs), and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between EMs ectopic (EC) and eutopic (EU) endometrium based on three RNA-sequencing datasets (GSE105765, GSE121406, and GSE105764) were identified, which were used for the construction of ceRNA network. Then, DEGs in the ceRNA network were performed with Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Besides, the DEmiRs in the ceRNA network were validated in GSE124010. And the target DELs and DEGs of verified DEmiRs were validated in GSE86534. The correlation of verified DEmiRs, DEGs, and DELs was explored. Moreover, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was applied to investigate the function of verified DEmiRs, DEGs, and DELs. Overall, 1352 DEGs and 595 DELs from GSE105764, along with 27 overlapped DEmiRs between GSE105765 and GSE121406, were obtained. Subsequently, a ceRNA network, including 11 upregulated and 16 downregulated DEmiRs, 7 upregulated and 13 downregulated DELs, 48 upregulated and 46 downregulated DEGs, was constructed. The GO and KEGG pathway analysis showed that this ceRNA network probably was associated with inflammation-related pathways. Furthermore, hsa-miR-182-5p and its target DELs (LINC01018 and SMIM25) and DEGs (BNC2, CHL1, HMCN1, PRDM16) were successfully verified in the validation analysis. Besides, hsa-miR-182-5p was significantly negatively correlated with these target DELs and DEGs. The GSEA analysis implied that high expression of LINC01018, SMIM25, and CHL1, and low expression of hsa-miR-182-5p would activate inflammation-related pathways in endometriosis EU samples.

LINC01018 and SMIM25 might sponge hsa-miR-182-5p to upregulate downstream genes such as CHL1 to promote the development of endometriosis.

LncRNA SNHG4 promotes the increased growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity via regulating c-Met mediated by miR-148a-3p

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate endometriosis. The current study investigated the mechanisms and effects of SNHG4 on endometriosis. The qRT-PCR was conducted to examine the miR-148a-3p and SNHG4 expressions in endometriosis tissues. The 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation assay and 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide assay were used to measure the rate of cell proliferation. The association between miR-148a-3p, SNHG4 and c-Met was confirmed via bioinformatical approach and luciferase reporter gene assay. Also, the function of SNHG4 on the growth of endometriotic lesions was investigated in vivo. The SNHG4 expression was considerably upregulated in endometriosis tissues, whereas the level of miR-148a-3p expression was reduced. In addition, SNHG4 can be considered as ceRNAs that bind miR-148a-3p and rise the proliferation activity of HESCs by downregulating miR-148a-3p. Furthermore, silencing SNHG4 could downregulate the c-Met level by enhancing miR-148a-3p expression, and finally inhibiting endometriosis development in vivo. LncRNA SNHG4 promotes the increased growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity via regulating c-Met mediated by miR-148a-3p, which may be used as diagnostic biomarker as well as molecular target in the treatment of endometriosis.

LncRNA MALAT1 inhibits apoptosis of endometrial stromal cells through miR-126-5p-CREB1 axis by activating PI3K-AKT pathway

Endometriosis is a common, chronic and painful disease in women, whose pathogenesis remains not entirely clear. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MALAT1 participates in the development of endometriosis. This study further investigated the regulation of MALAT1-miR-126-5p-CREB1 axis in the pathological process of endometriosis. MALAT1, miR-126-5p, and CREB1 levels in human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Protein levels were determined by Western blotting. Cell viability and apoptosis was assessed by MTT assay and annexin V-FITC staining, respectively. The interactivity between miR-126-5p and MALAT1 (or CREB1) was assessed by dual luciferase reporter system. Knockdown of MALAT1 or CREB1 restrained proliferation and induced apoptosis as confirmed by upregulating cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, and down-regulating Bcl-2 in HESCs, while inhibition of miR-126-5p presented the opposite results. Moreover, silencing of MALAT1 triggered apoptosis of HESCs via targeting miR-126-5p. In addition, miR-126-5p directly regulated CREB1 expression via binding to its 3' non-coding region. Finally, miR-126-5p inhibitor-mediated apoptosis inhibition was restrained by CREB1 silencing via inactivation of PI3K-AKT pathway in HESCs. Taken together, our study firstly demonstrates that MALAT1 regulates apoptosis of HESCs through miR-126-5p/CREB1 axis mediated PI3K/AKT pathway. Our findings explained the pathogenesis of endometriosis and offered promising therapeutic option for endometriosis.

Role of Non-coding RNAs in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma like lesions outside of the uterus. Although several hypothesis have tried to explain the underlying cause of endometriosis, yet the main cause remained obscure. Recent studies have shown contribution of non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Two classes of these transcripts namely long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) have mostly attracted attention of researchers. Several studies have reported aberrant expression of these transcripts in affected tissues from patients as well as animal models. Modulation of important signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT, P38-MAPK, ERK1/2-MAPK and Wnt-β catenin by miRNAs and lncRNAs have potentiated these molecules as biomarkers or therapeutic agents in endometriosis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms with miR-126, miR-143 and miR-146b have been associated with risk of endometriosis. Moreover, miRNAs and lncRNAs control inflammatory responses, cell proliferation, angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, thus understanding the role of these transcripts in endometriosis is a possible way to develop novel diagnostic tests and therapeutic targets for this disorder.

Analysis of exosomal lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA expression profiles and ceRNA network construction in endometriosis

Aim: To investigate exosomal RNAs (long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs)) profiling and their related networks in endometriosis (EMs). Materials & methods: RNA sequence was performed in exosomes from ovarian endometriomas (EC), eutopic endometria (EU) and normal endometria (Control) stromal cells. The bioinformatics algorithms evaluated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. The top-ranked ceRNA networks were confirmed by RT-PCR. Results: Overlapped differentially expressed 938 lncRNAs, 39 miRNAs and 1449 mRNAs were identified. 13 co-expression modules and 61 ceRNA networks were constructed. Conclusion: This study for the first time shows exosomal RNA biomarkers and lncRNA-related networks in EMs, which reveals a novel molecular mechanism of EMs and provides new resources for EM diagnosis and treatment.