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Role of repressed microRNAs in endometriosis

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Abstract

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.

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Abbreviations

ACTG2:

Smooth-muscle actin isoform γ2

ANGPT2:

Angiopoietin-2

BCAR3:

Breast cancer antiestrogen resistance 3

Bcl-2:

B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2

COUP-TFII:

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor II

COX-2:

Cyclooxygenase-2

CTGF:

Connective tissue growth factor

CYR61:

Cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61

DUSP2:

Dual-specificity phosphatase-2

EGR-1:

Early growth response protein 1

EMT:

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition

ERK:

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase

FGF-9:

Fibroblast growth factor-9

IKKβ:

Inhibitor of nuclear factor‑κB kinase subunit β

JAM-A:

Junctional adhesion molecule A

KLF:

Krüppel-like-factor

MALAT1:

Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1

miRNAs:

MicroRNAs

MMP:

Matrix metallopeptidase

MSI2:

Musashi-2

N.D.:

Not described

OCT4:

Octamer 4

PAI-1:

Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1

PAK4:

P21-activated kinase 4

PGE2:

Prostaglandin E2

ROCK:

Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase

SMARCD1:

SWItch/sucrose nonfermentable-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily D member 1

SOX:

Sex-determining region Y-box

STAT3:

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

VEGFA:

Vascular endothelial growth factor A

ZEB:

Zinc-finger-enhancer binding protein

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Funding

This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (no. 20K09622 to K.N.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Idaigaoka 1-1, Hasama-machi, Yufu-shi, Oita, 879-5593, Japan

    Kaei Nasu, Yoko Aoyagi, Ruofei Zhu, Mamiko Okamoto, Mitsutake Yano, Kentaro Kai & Yasushi Kawano

  2. Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Support System for Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan

    Kaei Nasu

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  1. Kaei Nasu
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  2. Yoko Aoyagi
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  3. Ruofei Zhu
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  4. Mamiko Okamoto
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  5. Mitsutake Yano
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  6. Kentaro Kai
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  7. Yasushi Kawano
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All authors conceived the study, participated in its design and coordination, and helped draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Kaei Nasu.

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Nasu, K., Aoyagi, Y., Zhu, R. et al. Role of repressed microRNAs in endometriosis. Med Mol Morphol 55, 1–7 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00795-021-00303-8

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