Identification of MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers in Ovarian Endometriosis
Abstract
Endometriosis, as a prevalent gynecological disease, is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, causing infertility and considerable pain and affecting the quality of life of women. The pathogenic mechanism has not been fully elucidated, and there are no effective biomarkers for endometriosis. In our study, microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling of 10 ectopic endometrial plasma from patients with ovarian endometriosis and 10 normal plasma from healthy controls was analyzed using a microarray. As a result, 114 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified. Among them, 14 miRNAs were significantly downregulated in patients with ovarian endometriosis, which matched the microarray results. The diagnostic value of the 14 downregulated miRNAs in ovarian endometriosis was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and hsa-let-7i-5p showed the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) with a value of 0.900. The target genes of the 14 miRNAs were predicted by miRWalk2.0, and the genes that were targeted by at least 2 of the 14 miRNAs were analyzed by function enrichment. The target genes were significantly enriched in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, such as microRNAs in cancer, bladder cancer, and endocrine resistance pathways, and the Gene Ontology (GO) terms such as nucleobase-containing compound metabolic process, cellular nitrogen compound biosynthetic process, and heterocycle metabolic process. The identified 14 differentially expressed miRNAs could be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
hsa-let-7i-5p and hub miRNAs including hsa-let-7a-5p, hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-miR-320a, and hsa-miR-320d might be potential diagnostic biomarkers.
“The miRNA hsa-let-7i-5p and hub miRNAs including hsa-let-7a-5p, hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-miR-320a, and hsa-miR-320d might be potential diagnostic biomarkers [164].”
From Endometriosis: Epidemiology, Classification, Pathogenesis, Treatment and Genetics (Review of Literature) (2021) · cites this paper as [164]
Cites
1 retracted
Shi, S., Hu, X., Xu, J., Liu, H., & Zou, L. (2018) · RSC Advances · doi:10.1039/c8ra01200h · Cited by 5 · see citing works
RetractedKEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes
Kanehisa, M. (2000) · Nucleic Acids Research · doi:10.1093/nar/28.1.27 · Cited by 37,077 · see citing works
KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes
Ogata, H., Goto, S., Sato, K., Fujibuchi, W., Bono, H., & Kanehisa, M. (1999) · Nucleic Acids Research · doi:10.1093/nar/27.1.29 · Cited by 31,232 · see citing works
Endometriosis: pathogenesis and treatment
Vercellini, P., Viganò, P., Somigliana, E., & Fedele, L. (2014) · Nature Reviews Endocrinology · doi:10.1038/nrendo.2013.255 · Cited by 1,940 · see citing works
Giudice, L. C. (2010) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmcp1000274 · Cited by 1,924 · see citing works
Bulun, S. E. (2009) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmra0804690 · Cited by 1,772 · see citing works
ESHRE guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis
Kennedy, S., Bergqvist, A., Chapron, C., D’Hooghe, T., Dunselman, G., Greb, R., Hummelshoj, L., Prentice, A., & Saridogan, E. (2005) · Human Reproduction · doi:10.1093/humrep/dei135 · Cited by 1,584 · see citing works
Roush, S. F., & Slack, F. J. (2008) · Trends in Cell Biology · doi:10.1016/j.tcb.2008.07.007 · Cited by 1,332 · see citing works
microPrimer: the biogenesis and function of microRNA
Du, T., & Zamore, P. D. (2005) · Development · doi:10.1242/dev.02070 · Cited by 809 · see citing works
De Graaff, A. A., D'Hooghe, T. M., Dunselman, G. A. J., Dirksen, C. D., Hummelshoj, L., WERF EndoCost Consortium, Simoens, S., Bokor, A., Brandes, I., Brodszky, V., et al. (2013) · Human Reproduction · doi:10.1093/humrep/det284 · Cited by 473 · see citing works
Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Management
Leyland, N., Casper, R., Laberge, P., Singh, S. S., Allen, L., Arendas, K., Leyland, N., Allaire, C., Awadalla, A., Best, C., et al. (2010) · Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada · doi:10.1016/s1701-2163(16)34589-3 · Cited by 427 · see citing works
Functional MicroRNA Involved in Endometriosis
Hawkins, S. M., Creighton, C. J., Han, D. Y., Zariff, A., Anderson, M. L., Gunaratne, P. H., & Matzuk, M. M. (2011) · Molecular Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/me.2010-0371 · Cited by 264 · see citing works
Invasive and Noninvasive Methods for the Diagnosis of Endometriosis
Hsu, A. L., Khachikyan, I., & Stratton, P. (2010) · Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology · doi:10.1097/grf.0b013e3181db7ce8 · Cited by 260 · see citing works
Mechanisms of pain in endometriosis
Morotti, M., Vincent, K., & Becker, C. M. (2017) · European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology · doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.07.497 · Cited by 255 · see citing works
Circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers for endometriosis
Cho, S., Mutlu, L., Grechukhina, O., & Taylor, H. S. (2015) · Fertility and Sterility · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.02.013 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
Endometriosis: Treatment Strategies
VALLE, R. F., & Sciarra, J. J. (2003) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1196/annals.1290.026 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
MicroRNA 135 regulates HOXA10 expression in endometriosis
Petracco, R., Grechukhina, O., Popkhadze, S., Massasa, E., Zhou, Y., & Taylor, H. S. (2011) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2011-1231 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Epidemiology of Endometriosis:
MCLEOD, B. S., & Retzloff, M. G. (2010) · Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology · doi:10.1097/grf.0b013e3181db7bde · Cited by 112 · see citing works
A polymorphism in a let‐7 microRNA binding site of KRAS in women with endometriosis
Grechukhina, O., Petracco, R., Popkhadze, S., Massasa, E., Paranjape, T., Chan, E., Flores, I., Weidhaas, J. B., & Taylor, H. S. (2012) · EMBO Molecular Medicine · doi:10.1002/emmm.201100200 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Nematian, S., Mamillapalli, R., Kadakia, T. S., Zolbin, M. M., Moustafa, S. M., & Taylor, H. S. (2017) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2017-01199 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Cho, S., Mutlu, L., Zhou, Y., & Taylor, H. S. (2016) · Fertility and Sterility · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.05.020 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Cheng, Z., Qiu, S., Jiang, L., Zhang, A., Bao, W., Liu, P., & Liu, J. (2012) · Journal of Clinical Immunology · doi:10.1007/s10875-012-9834-5 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Okamoto, M., Nasu, K., Abe, W., Aoyagi, Y., Kawano, Y., Kai, K., Moriyama, M., & Narahara, H. (2014) · Human Reproduction · doi:10.1093/humrep/deu332 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Braicu, O. L., Budişan, L., Buiga, R., Jurj, A. M., Achimaș-Cădariu, P., Pop, L., Braicu, C., Irimie, A., & Berindan‐Neagoe, I. (2017) · OncoTargets and Therapy · doi:10.2147/ott.s137107 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Let-7i-5p represses brite adipocyte function in mice and humans
Giroud, M., Karbiener, M., Pisani, D. F., Ghandour, R. A., Béranger, G. E., Niemi, T. S., Taittonen, M. T., Nuutila, P., Virtanen, K. A., Langin, D., et al. (2016) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep28613 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Liu, S., Gao, S., Wang, X. Y., & Wang, D. B. (2012) · Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics · doi:10.1007/s00404-011-2112-6 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Chhabra, R. (2018) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-018-26292-w · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Tian, X., Xu, L., & Wang, P. (2015) · PubMed Central · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Parkinson's disease prediction using machine learning approaches
Gokul, S., Sivachitra, M., & Vijayachitra, S. (2013) · International Conference on Advanced Computing · doi:10.1109/icoac.2013.6921958 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Circulating miRNAs in Murine Experimental Endometriosis: Decreased Abundance of let-7a
Seifer, B. J., Su, D., & Taylor, H. S. (2016) · Reproductive Sciences · doi:10.1177/1933719116667228 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Shen, H., Lu, S., Dong, L., Xue, Y., Yao, C., Tong, C., Wang, C., & Shu, X. (2018) · Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology · doi:10.1097/fjc.0000000000000568 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
miRNA and target gene expression in menstrual endometria and early pregnancy decidua
Lv, Y., Gao, S., Zhang, Y., Wang, L., Chen, X., & Wang, Y. (2015) · European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology · doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2015.11.003 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Carvalho, L. F. P., Rossener, R., Azeem, A., Malvezzi, H., Abrão, M. S., & Agarwal, A. K. (2013) · PubMed · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Song, J., Wang, L., Ma, Q., Yang, Y., Yang, Z., Wang, B., & He, N. (2018) · Oncology Reports · doi:10.3892/or.2018.6577 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Basta, A., Brucka, A., Górski, J., Kotarski, J., Kulig, B., Oszukowski, P. J., Poręba, R., Radowicki, S., Radwan, J., Sikora, J., et al. (2012) · PubMed · Cited by 20 · see citing works
MIR320 family regulates NOD2/CARD15: A new mechanism for controlling inflammation?
Stronati, L., Pierdomenico, M., Cesi, V., Costanzo, M., Aloi, M., Oliva, S., Civitelli, F. S., & Cucchiara, S. (2014) · Digestive and Liver Disease · doi:10.1016/j.dld.2014.07.048 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Smolarz, B., Szyłło, K., & Romanowicz, H. (2021) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms221910554 · Cited by 560 · see citing works
Liu, T., Liu, M., Zheng, C., Zhang, D., Li, M., & Zhang, L. (2021) · International Journal of Nanomedicine · doi:10.2147/ijn.s323671 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Circulating microRNAs as Non-Invasive Biomarkers in Endometriosis Diagnosis—A Systematic Review
Vanhie, A., Caron, E., Vermeersch, E., Dorien, O., Tomassetti, C., Meuleman, C., Mestdagh, P., & D’Hooghe, T. M. (2024) · Biomedicines · doi:10.3390/biomedicines12040888 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Liquid Biopsy in Endometriosis: A Systematic Review
Ronsini, C., Fumiento, P., Iavarone, I., Greco, P., Cobellis, L., & FRANCISCIS, P. D. (2023) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms24076116 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Omics-based novel strategies in the diagnosis of endometriosis
Samare‐Najaf, M., Razavinasab, S. A., Samareh, A. N., & Jamali, N. (2023) · Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences · doi:10.1080/10408363.2023.2270736 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Expression and Biological Functions of miRNAs in Chronic Pain: A Review on Human Studies
Sabina, S., Panìco, A., Mincarone, P., Leo, C. G., Garbarino, S., Grassi, T., Bagordo, F., Donno, A. D., Scoditti, E., & Tumolo, M. R. (2022) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms23116016 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Small RNA in sperm–Paternal contributions to human embryo development
Isacson, S., Karlsson, K., Zalavary, S., Asratian, A., Kugelberg, U. Ö., Liffner, S., & Öst, A. (2025) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-025-62015-2 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Identification of miR-30c-5p microRNA in Serum as a Candidate Biomarker to Diagnose Endometriosis
Chico-Sordo, L., Ruiz-Martínez, T., Toribio, M., González-Martín, R., Spagnolo, E., Domı́nguez, F., Hernández, A., & García-Velasco, J. A. (2024) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms25031853 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Follicular Fluid and Blood Monitorization of Infertility Biomarkers in Women with Endometriosis
Brinca, A. T., Peiró, A. M., Matallı́n, P., Buendicho, I. E., Oliani, A. H., Silva, V., Vicente, L. F., Ramalhinho, A. C., & Gallardo, E. (2024) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms25137177 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
An Analogy of Endometriosis Recognition Using Machine Learning Techniques
Visalaxi, S., Punnoose, D., & Muthu, T. S. (2021) · International Conference on Intelligent Communication Technologies and Virtual Mobile Networks (ICICV) · doi:10.1109/icicv50876.2021.9388403 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Non‐coding RNAs and their cross‐talks impacting reproductive health of women
Jain, N., Gupta, P., Sahoo, S., & Mallick, B. (2021) · Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews - RNA · doi:10.1002/wrna.1695 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Circulating Serum Micro-RNA as Non-Invasive Diagnostic Biomarkers of Endometriosis
Ravaggi, A., Bergamaschi, C., Galbiati, C., Zanotti, L., Fabricio, A. S. C., Gion, M., Cappelletto, E., Leon, A. E., Gennarelli, M., Romagnolo, C., et al. (2024) · Biomedicines · doi:10.3390/biomedicines12102393 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Differential Expression and Bioinformatics Analysis of tRF/tiRNA in Endometriosis Patients
Wangshu, L., Li, Y.-L., Cao, R., Ha, C., Sun, S. F., Yu, L., & Li, J. (2022) · BioMed Research International · doi:10.1155/2022/9911472 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Azari, Z., Aljubran, F., & Nothnick, W. B. (2022) · Reproductive Sciences · doi:10.1007/s43032-022-00955-6 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Diagnostic accuracy of plasma microRNA as a potential biomarker for detection of endometriosis
Mohammadi, S. D., Moeini, A., Rastegar, T., Amidi, F., Saffari, M., Zhaeentan, S., Akhavan, S., Moradi, B., Heydarikhah, F., & Takzare, N. (2025) · Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine · doi:10.1080/19396368.2025.2465268 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Ma, S., Zheng, Y., & Fei, C. (2020) · Future Oncology · doi:10.2217/fon-2020-0668 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Evaluating the diagnostic potential of CA ‐125 and miRNA levels in endometriosis: A narrative review
Shokrnejad-Namin, T., Farzizadeh, N., Najmi, Z., Amoozgar, M., Hariri, A., Amini, E., Khosravi, A., & Zarrabi, A. (2025) · International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics · doi:10.1002/ijgo.70554 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Tu, Q., Zhao, R., & Lu, N. (2024) · Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics · doi:10.1007/s10815-024-03261-z · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Lu, B., Cao, X., chen, X., yue, Y., Tang, S., & Xia, F. (2022) · Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics · doi:10.1007/s00404-022-06439-x · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Li, J., Zhao, B., Yang, C., & Chen, Q. (2020) · BioMed Research International · doi:10.1155/2020/9246868 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Identification of key genes associated with infertile endometriosis based on bioinformatic analysis
Chang, L., Ye, H., Hou, M., Xie, X., Wang, Y., Cheng, J., Wang, R., Chen, X., Quan, X., Sun, L., et al. (2025) · Frontiers in Genetics · doi:10.3389/fgene.2025.1615268 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Diagnostic value of MiRNAs in endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Wei, N., Liu, H., Zhang, Y., Yang, X., Wu, G., Dong, Z., Li, X., Yue, L., & Zhao, R. (2026) · BMC Women s Health · doi:10.1186/s12905-026-04281-w · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Endometriosis and genital malformations in children and adolescents. What do they have in common?
Adamyan, L. V., Alyasova, A. V., & Stepanian, A. A. (2024) · Russian Journal of Human Reproduction · doi:10.17116/repro20243003114 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Shabeer, A., Mustafa, S., Bukhari, R. S., Abdel-Maksoud, M. A., Almutairi, S. M., Al‐Qahtani, W. H., Chandio, K., Khan, N. Y., Gul, J., & Aufy, M. (2023) · PubMed Central
Let-7i: A key player and a promising biomarker in diseases.
Hou, J., & Sun, X. (2023) · PubMed Central · doi:10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.220146
POTENTIAL ВIOMARKERS OF ENDOMETRIOSIS: THE SEARCH IS UNDERWAY
ZARIPOVA, A. S., Gabidullina, R. I., MINNULLINA, F. F., AKHMETOVA, D. I., & Orlov, Y. V. (2023) · The Bulletin of Contemporary Clinical Medicine · doi:10.20969/vskm.2023.16(6).103-109
Sviluppo di un modello diagnostico basato su MicroRNA sierici per la diagnosi di endometriosi
Bergamaschi, C., Ravaggi, A., Galbiati, C., Zanotti, L., Conforti, J., Epis, M., Fabricio, A. S. C., Massimo, G. I. O. N., Leon, A. E., Cappelletto, E., et al. (2025) · Biochimica Clinica · doi:10.23736/s0393-0564.25.00034-2
Um Novo Caminho: o Potencial dos microRNAs no Diagnóstico da Endometriose
Rodrigues, I. D. M. C., & Rolim, L. A. D. M. D. M. (2025) · COGNITIONIS Scientific Journal · doi:10.38087/2595.8801.738
Analyse des micro-ARN dans le cadre de l'endométriose : apport clinico-biologique
Dabi, Y. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/ee221eccza824z4ddezbeb8z04286230c430
Nothnick, W. B., Olig, E. M., & Findley, A. (2026) · Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology · doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2026.10.004
- Authors
- Gu, C.-L., Zhang, Z., Fan, W.-S., Li, L.-A., Ye, M.-X., Zhang, Q., Zhang, N.-N., Li, Z., & Meng, Y.-G.
- Affiliations
- Chinese PLA General Hospital (CN)
- Venue
- Reproductive Sciences
- Published
- 2020-07-10
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1715-1723
- ISSN
- 1933-7191 (ISSN-L)
- 1933-7205
- OpenAlex
- W3042052439
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 3.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Reproductive Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Endometriosis Research and Treatment
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › MicroRNA in disease regulation
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Keywords
- endometrioma, microRNA, biomarkers, diagnostic value, miRNA target genes, KEGG pathway enrichment, therapeutic target
- MeSH terms
- Endometriosis, Endometrium, Female, Humans, Ovarian Diseases, Signal Transduction, Biomarkers, Down-Regulation, Gene Expression Profiling, MicroRNAs
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review