MicroRNA‑202 inhibits endometrial stromal cell migration and invasion by suppressing the K‑Ras/Raf1/MEK/ERK signaling pathway

Abstract

The enhanced migratory ability of endometrial stromal cells (EScs) is a key factor in the formation of functional endometrium-like tissues outside the uterine cavity during endometriosis (EMS). Although accumulating evidence has suggested the importance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of EMS, the role of particular miRNAs in the invasiveness of EScs remain poorly understood. In the present study, the function of miRNAs in the invasiveness of EScs, along with the associated underlying mechanism involved, were investigated. Initially, the expression patterns of miRNAs in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium isolated from patients with EMS were analyzed using microarray. MicroRNA-202-5p (miR-202) was selected for further study due to its previously reported suppressive effects on the invasion in various types of cancers. The expression of miR-202 and K-Ras in eutopic and ectopic endometrioma tissues were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative PcR, immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The migration and invasion ability of EScs was determined using wound healing and Transwell invasion