Background

Endometriosis characterized with existence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Fibrosis of ectopic lesions is an important feature of endometriosis. IL-4 induces fibrosis via fibroblast proliferation, collagen production and myofibroblast differentiation. Increasing of miR-21 expression promotes fibroblast activation and fibrosis expansion. The aim of study was to evaluate the expression of miR-21 and its relationship with IL-4 gene expression in endometrial ectopic and eutopic tissues of endometriosis patients.

Methods and Results

Ectopic and eutopic tissue samples were taken from 20 women with endometriosis, and control samples were taken from the endometrium of 20 endometriosis-free women. The relative expression of IL-4 and miR-21 evaluated by Real Time PCR. IL-4 relative gene expression was significantly increased in ectopic tissue compared to eutopic (p = 0.025) and control tissue (p = 0.021). The relative expression of miR-21 gene in ectopic tissue was increased compared to eutopic (p = 0.850) and control tissue (p = 0.978) but these differences were not significant. Also, the correlation between IL-4 and miR-21 relative gene expression was not significant (p = 0.083).

Conclusion

The increased expression of miR-21 in endometrium of women with endometriosis may upregulate the IL-4 gene expression and lead to fibrosis. Further studies may suggest miR-21 and IL-4 as candidates for diagnosis of endometriosis.

中文翻译：

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子宫内膜异位症中miR-21和IL-4的表达

背景

子宫内膜异位症的特征是子宫外存在子宫内膜样组织。异位病灶纤维化是子宫内膜异位症的重要特征。IL-4 通过成纤维细胞增殖、胶原蛋白产生和肌成纤维细胞分化诱导纤维化。miR-21表达的增加促进成纤维细胞活化和纤维化扩展。本研究的目的是评估子宫内膜异位症患者子宫内膜异位和在位组织中miR-21的表达及其与IL-4基因表达的关系。

方法和结果

异位和在位组织样本取自 20 名患有子宫内膜异位症的女性，对照样本取自 20 名无子宫内膜异位症女性的子宫内膜。通过实时PCR评估IL-4和miR-21的相对表达。与在位组织 (p = 0.025) 和对照组织 (p = 0.021) 相比，异位组织中IL-4相对基因表达显着增加。与在位组织 (p = 0.850) 和对照组织 (p = 0.978) 相比，异位组织中 miR-21 基因的相对表达有所增加，但这些差异并不显着。此外， IL - 4和 miR-21 相对基因表达之间的相关性并不显着 (p = 0.083)。

结论

子宫内膜异位症女性子宫内膜中 miR-21 表达增加可能上调IL-4基因表达并导致纤维化。进一步的研究可能表明 miR-21 和IL-4作为诊断子宫内膜异位症的候选药物。