Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
Localized RNAi and Ectopic Gene Expression in the Medicinal Leech
Published on: April 17, 2008
The relationship between the expression levels of miR-135a and HOXA10 gene in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium
Seyed Hamidreza Mirabutalebi1,2, Noorodin Karami1, Fatemeh Montazeri2
1Genetics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Background:
The study of microRNA expression can be effective in the diagnosing and treating different diseases. miR-135a is one of the most important micro-ribonucleic acids involved in endometriosis. Among the genes that become the target of the miR-135a and are subjected to changes in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis is HOXA10 gene which is expressed in the endometrium in response to steroid hormones.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of miR-135a and its relationship with the level of HOXA10 gene expression in both endometrial ectopic and eutopic tissues in patients with endometriosis compared to the control samples.
Materials And Methods:
In this prospective case-control study, both case-eutopic and case-ectopic tissue samples were obtained from 17 women with endometriosis and the eutopic endometrial tissue was sampled from 17 women with normal endometrium as the control group. The gene's expression of miR-135a and HOXA10 were investigated using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (q-RT PCR).
Results:
A significant decrease in the expression of HOXA10 gene was detected in case-eutopic during the luteal phase compared to the control samples (p=0.001), while in the case-ectopic, the expression of this gene was increased (p=0.681) compared to the control samples. In addition, the expression miR-135a in the luteal phase showed a remarkable increase in the case-eutopic endometrial tissue (p=0.026) as well as a significant decrease in the case-ectopic endometrial tissue compared to the control samples (p=0.008).
Conclusion:
Considering the inverse relations between the over-expression of miR-135a and the reduction of HOXA10, it seems that miR-135a may be applied as an endometrial diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker.
Insights
MicroRNA (miR-135a) expression is altered in endometriosis, inversely correlating with HOXA10 gene levels. This suggests miR-135a could serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for endometriosis.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Molecular genetics
- Gynecology
Background:
- MicroRNA (miRNA) expression profiling aids in disease diagnosis and treatment.
- microRNA-135a (miR-135a) is implicated in endometriosis.
- HOXA10 gene expression is modulated by miR-135a in the endometrium of endometriosis patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess miR-135a and HOXA10 gene expression in ectopic and eutopic endometrial tissues of endometriosis patients.
- To compare these expression levels with control samples.
Main Methods:
- A prospective case-control study was conducted.
- Endometrial tissue samples were collected from 17 women with endometriosis (eutopic and ectopic) and 17 controls (eutopic).
- Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (q-RT PCR) was used to measure miR-135a and HOXA10 gene expression.
Main Results:
- HOXA10 gene expression was significantly decreased in eutopic tissues during the luteal phase in endometriosis patients compared to controls (p=0.001).
- HOXA10 gene expression showed increased levels in ectopic tissues (p=0.681).
- miR-135a expression was significantly increased in eutopic tissues (p=0.026) and decreased in ectopic tissues (p=0.008) during the luteal phase compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- An inverse relationship was observed between elevated miR-135a and reduced HOXA10 expression.
- miR-135a shows potential as an endometrial diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for endometriosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:42What is Gene Expression?
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
01:36What is Gene Expression?
01:58Cell Specific Gene Expression
01:58Cell Specific Gene Expression
02:35Chromatin Position Affects Gene Expression
Topologically Associated Domains (TADs)
The 3-dimensional positioning of chromatin in the nucleus influences the...
02:51mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability