Published online Feb 10, 2016. doi: 10.5317/wjog.v5.i1.28
Peer-review started: August 6, 2015
First decision: September 16, 2015
Revised: December 2, 2015
Accepted: January 5, 2016
Article in press: January 7, 2016
Published online: February 10, 2016
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disorder that limits the quality of life of affected women. This pathology affects 10% of reproductive-age women, although the prevalence in those patients experiencing pain, infertility or both is as high as 35%-50%. Endometriosis is characterized by endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, primarily on the pelvic peritoneum, ovaries and the pouch of Douglas. Despite extensive research endeavours, a unifying theory regarding the exact etiopathogenic mechanism of this high prevalent and incapacitating condition is still lacking, although it has been suggested that epigenetics could be involved. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), one of the epigenetic players, are small non-coding RNAs that can act as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, reducing the expression of their target mRNAs either inhibiting its translation or promoting its degradation. MiRNA expression profiles are specific of tissue and cell type. Abnormal miRNA expression has been described in different pathological conditions, such as a myriad of oncological, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases and gynecological pathologies. In endometriosis, miRNA expression patterns of eutopic endometrium from patients and control women and from different endometriotic lesions have been described. These small non-coding molecules have become attractive candidates as novel biomarkers for an early non-invasive diagnosis of the disease, which could suppose a valuable benefit to the patients in terms of improvement of prognosis and reduction of the ratio of recurrence. In this systematic review we will focus on the role of miRNAs in the pathophisiology of endometriosis.
Core tip: Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disorder that limits the quality of life of affected women. Nowadays, a unifying theory regarding its exact etiopathogenic mechanism has not been achieved yet. Our objective is to review the current literature to better understand the role of microRNAs, one of the epigenetic players, in the pathophisiology of endometriosis and their potential as novel diagnostic biomarkers to guide therapeutic interventions in endometriosis.