title: Down regulation of MiR-93 contributes to endometriosis through targeting MMP3 and VEGFA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore the role of miRNAs in pathogenesis of endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometrial samples from 57 females with endometriosis and 44 non-endometriotic controls were compared for the expression of a selected group of miRNAs. The regulatory function on downstream target was also explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of miR-93 and miR106a was significantly reduced in endometriotic samples compared to that in non-endometriotic samples. High levels of MMP3 and VEGFA were detected in more than 50% ectopic endometrium tissues. A negative association was found between the expression of miR-93 and the protein levels of MMP3 (Pearson correlation, r=-0.39, P=0.0025) or VEGFA (Pearson correlation, r=-0.37, P=0.0047) in samples from endometriosis patients. Mechanistically, miR-93 targeted MMP3 and VEGFA by directly binding to the 3'UTR of MMP3 and VEGFA mRNAs, and thereby inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasive capability of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding of this study suggests that deregulation of miR-93 contribute to endometriosis by up-regulation of MMP3 and VEGFA and thus provide potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Endometriosis; invasion; microRNA; migration; proliferation