Evaluation of transcription factors expression and microRNA as co-regulatory loops in pelvic endometriosis lesions and their correlation with disease intensity and fibrosis

• Grant number: 21/12505-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: September 01, 2022 - August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Maurício Simões Abrão
• Grantee: Maurício Simões Abrão
• Host Institution: Hospital de Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo. Real e Benemérita Associação Portuguesa de Beneficência de São Paulo (RBAPB). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Mario Hiroyuki Hirata

Abstract

Endometriosis is considered a benign disease, but with a malignant tumor invasion mechanism. Much research shows that Transcription Factors (TF) play a significant role in the occurrence and development of cancer. However, research on TF in endometriosis is still poorly explored. It is believed that miRNAs can regulate the function of TF in some diseases, including endometriosis. Existing evidence supports the ability of many miRNAs to interact with transcription factors to form a network for gene regulation that produces negative and positive feedback loops. The elucidation of the mechanisms and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, including the FT-miRNA regulatory loops, may allow the development of more specific means of prevention and therapy not only for endometriosis but also for neoplasms. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression profile of co-regulatory loops - transcription factors and microRNA in superficial, ovarian and deep pelvic endometriosis lesions and their correlation with disease intensity and fibrosis. Tissue samples from patients with endometriosis (Group A) and without endometriosis (Group B) will be analyzed. The mRNA from microdissected cells will be extracted with the miRNaesy mini kit. cDNA synthesis will be performed using the High-Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription kit. The analysis of the expression of transcription factors will be performed in array format using the Taqman® Array Plate - Human_Transcription_Factors platform. For the analysis of miRNA, samples previously extracted with cDNA synthesis made using the miScript II RT kit will be used. The miRNA expression profile will be performed in array format using the miScript miRNA PCR array Human Tumor Suppressor miRNAs kit. RT-qPCR results will be analyzed using the GeneGlobe Data Analysis Center. The comparative analysis of gene expression and miRNA of patients with and without endometriosis will be performed using the comparative method of CT. Fold change results >2 and with p values <0.05 will be considered biologically significant. The results will be analyzed using SPSS V.25.0 software and the significance level adopted will be p<0.05. (AU)