Expression analysis of plasma extracellular vesicle associated candidate MiRNAs in endometriosis using integrative...

Laparoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing endometriosis; however, it is an invasive and costly method. Recent studies offer a non-invasive approach based on extracellular vesicle miRNA. Despite this, no consensus diagnostic biomarker has been identified to date. For addressing this gap, we decided to investigate plasma derived extracellular vesicle associated candidate miRNAs. In order to identify candidate miRNAs, a comprehensive search was performed in PubMed database using the search terms "micro-RNA" and "endometriosis". Then, bioinformatics analysis was performed utilizing the miRTarBase database, Enrichr, and relevant software. During the experimental phase, the presence of candidate miRNAs was assessed in blood samples of 13 women with severe endometriosis, confirmed through laparoscopy or doppler sonography, as well as in 11 endometriosis-free women, as control group. After literature review of 405 articles published between 2007 and 2023, followed by bioinformatics analysis, were identified five miRNAs (miR-451a, 148a, 23b, 100, and 154) as candidate miRNAs. Subsequently, the expression levels of miR-451a, 148a, 23b, and 100 found to exhibit differences between the case and control groups. Our study suggests to serve of these miRNAs as a potentially diagnostic biomarker panel for endometriosis, however it needs to be confirmed by future studies with large diagnostic validation.