title: RNAi-mediated blocking of ezrin reduces migration of ectopic endometrial cells in endometriosis.
abstract: Ezrin is a member of the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) family of membrane-cytoskeletal linkage proteins. It is important for maintenance of cell shape, adhesion, migration and division. The overexpression of ezrin in some tumours is associated with increased cell migration that is mediated by the Rho/ROCK family of small GTPases. To investigate the role of ezrin in the migration of ectopic endometrial cells in endometriosis, we conducted real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the eutopic and ectopic endometrium from women with endometriosis compared with those without the disease. RNAi, wound healing assays and western blot analysis of endometriotic cells were also included in this research. We found significantly higher levels of mRNA expression of ezrin (0.42 versus 0.27, P < 0.05), RhoA (0.99 versus 0.74, P < 0.05), RhoC (0.79 versus 0.43, P < 0.005) and ROCK1 (0.68 versus 0.38, P < 0.005) in the ectopic endometrial cells compared with the eutopic endometrial cells in endometriosis. Blocking ezrin with small-interfering RNA reduced the migration of ectopic endometrial cells with decreased expression of RhoA (42.68%), RhoC (58.42%) and ROCK1 (59.88%). Our results indicate that the over-expression of ezrin in endometriosis may play a significant role in the migration of endometrial cells of endometriosis, and the RhoC/Rock pathway may provide a promising treatment target.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,  Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310006,  People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiao-Ying
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Jian-Mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Hai-Gang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xiang-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Rui-Jin
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein; D000099149:Ezrin
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein; D000099149:Ezrin; C515851:ROCK1 protein, human; C066690:RHOC protein, human