Identification of Potential Molecular Mechanism Related to Infertile Endometriosis

Omics-based novel strategies in the diagnosis of endometriosis

Endometriosis, an enigmatic and chronic disorder, is considered a debilitating condition despite being benign. Globally, this gynecologic disorder affects up to 10% of females of reproductive age, impacting almost 190 million individuals. A variety of genetic and environmental factors are involved in endometriosis development, hence the pathophysiology and etiology of endometriosis remain unclear. The uncertainty of the etiology of the disease and its complexity along with nonspecific symptoms have led to misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis of affected people. Biopsy and laparoscopy are referred to as the gold standard for endometriosis diagnosis. However, the invasiveness of the procedure, the unnecessary operation in disease-free women, and the dependence of the reliability of diagnosis on experience in this area are considered the most significant limitations. Therefore, continuous studies have attempted to offer a noninvasive and reliable approach. The recent advances in modern technologies have led to the generation of large-scale biological data sets, known as -omics data, resulting in the proceeding of the -omics century in biomedical sciences. Thereby, the present study critically reviews novel and noninvasive biomarkers that are based on -omics approaches from 2020 onward. The findings reveal that biomarkers identified based on genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are potentially able to diagnose endometriosis, predict prognosis, and stage patients, and potentially, in the near future, a multi-panel of these biomarkers will generate clinical benefits.

Immune dysfunction mediated by the competitive endogenous RNA network in fetal side placental tissue of polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting women in their reproductive years. Emerging evidence suggests that the maternal-fetal immune system is crucial for proper pregnancy. However, whether immune function is altered at the end of pregnancy in PCOS women and the underlying molecular mechanisms is currently unexplored. Herein, the basic maternal immune system was investigated (n = 136 in the control group; n = 103 in the PCOS group), and whole-transcriptome sequencing was carried out to quantify the mRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs expression levels in fetal side placental tissue of women with PCOS. GO, KEGG, and GSEA analysis were employed for functional enrichment analysis. The process of identifying hub genes was conducted utilizing the protein-protein interaction network. CIBERSORT and Connectivity Map were deployed to determine immune cell infiltration and predict potential drugs, respectively. A network of mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA was constructed and then validated by qRT-PCR. First, red blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were significantly elevated, while placental growth factor was hindered in PCOS women. We identified 308 DEmRNAs, 77 DEmiRNAs, and 332 DElncRNAs in PCOS samples. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that there were significant changes observed in terms of the immune system, especially the chemokine pathway. Eight genes, including FOS, JUN, EGR1, CXCL10, CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCL11, and CXCL8, were considered as hub genes. Furthermore, the degree of infiltration of neutrophils was dramatically decreased in PCOS tissues. In total, 57 ceRNA events were finally obtained, and immune-related ceRNA networks were validated. Some potential drug candidates, such as enalapril and RS-100329, could have a function in PCOS therapy. This study represents the inaugural attempt to evaluate the immune system at the end of pregnancy and placental ceRNA networks in PCOS, indicating alterations in the chemokine pathway, which may impact fetal and placental growth, and provides new therapy targets.

Identification of potential molecular mechanism related to craniofacial dysmorphism caused by FOXI3 deficiency

BACKGROUND

Hemifacial macrosomia (HFM, OMIM 164210) is a complex and highly heterogeneous disease. FORKHEAD BOX I3 (FOXI3) is a susceptibility gene for HFM, and mice with loss of function of Foxi3 did exhibit a phenotype similar to craniofacial dysmorphism. However, the specific pathogenesis of HFM caused by FOXI3 deficiency remains unclear till now.

METHOD

In this study, we first constructed a Foxi3 deficiency (Foxi3-/- ) mouse model to verify the craniofacial phenotype of Foxi3-/- mice, and then used RNAseq data for gene differential expression analysis to screen candidate pathogenic genes, and conducted gene expression verification analysis using quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTS

By observing the phenotype of Foxi3-/- mice, we found that craniofacial dysmorphism was present. The results of comprehensive bioinformatics analysis suggested that the craniofacial dysmorphism caused by Foxi3 deficiency may be involved in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that the expression of PI3K-Akt signaling pathway-related gene Akt2 was significantly increased in Foxi3-/- mice.

CONCLUSION

The craniofacial dysmorphism caused by the deficiency of Foxi3 may be related to the expression of Akt2 and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This study laid a foundation for understanding the function of FOXI3 and the pathogenesis and treatment of related craniofacial dysmorphism caused by FOXI3 dysfunction.

Unveiling the Role of Endometrial CD-138: A Comprehensive Review on Its Significance in Infertility and Early Pregnancy

This review comprehensively examines the role of endometrial CD-138 (syndecan-1) in the context of infertility and early pregnancy. The endometrium, a dynamic tissue responsive to hormonal cues, plays a central role in fertility, and understanding the molecular intricacies governing its function is crucial. CD-138, a cell surface proteoglycan, emerges as a critical player expressed by various endometrial cell types. Our exploration encompasses a brief overview of the endometrium, introducing CD-138 as a significant molecular entity. The rationale for the review underscores the importance of elucidating endometrial factors in fertility and addresses existing knowledge gaps related to CD-138. Throughout the review, we unravel the multifaceted nature of CD-138 and its involvement in infertility, highlighting its potential as a diagnostic marker. Furthermore, insights into CD-138's role during early pregnancy, including trophoblast-endothelial interactions, are discussed. In conclusion, the findings underscore the clinical implications of CD-138, suggesting its utility in diagnostics and offering prospects for targeted therapeutic interventions. The identified knowledge gaps propel future research directions, promising to deepen our understanding of this enigmatic molecule and its transformative potential in reproductive medicine.

Identification of necroptosis-related genes in Parkinson's disease by integrated bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation

Background

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegeneration disease worldwide. Necroptosis, which is a new form of programmed cell death with high relationship with inflammation, plays a vital role in the progression of PD. However, the key necroptosis related genes in PD are not fully elucidated.

Purpose

Identification of key necroptosis-related genes in PD.

Method

The PD associated datasets and necroptosis related genes were downloaded from the GEO Database and GeneCards platform, respectively. The DEGs associated with necroptosis in PD were obtained by gap analysis, and followed by cluster analysis, enrichment analysis and WGCNA analysis. Moreover, the key necroptosis related genes were generated by PPI network analysis and their relationship by spearman correlation analysis. Immune infiltration analysis was used for explore the immune state of PD brain accompanied with the expression levels of these genes in various types of immune cells. Finally, the gene expression levels of these key necroptosis related genes were validated by an external dataset, blood samples from PD patients and toxin-induced PD cell model using real-time PCR analysis.

Result

Twelve key necroptosis-related genes including ASGR2, CCNA1, FGF10, FGF19, HJURP, NTF3, OIP5, RRM2, SLC22A1, SLC28A3, WNT1 and WNT10B were identified by integrated bioinformatics analysis of PD related dataset GSE7621. According to the correlation analysis of these genes, RRM2 and WNT1 were positively and negatively correlated with SLC22A1 respectively, while WNT10B was positively correlated with both OIF5 and FGF19. As the results from immune infiltration analysis, M2 macrophage was the highest population of immune cell in analyzed PD brain samples. Moreover, we found that 3 genes (CCNA1, OIP5 and WNT10B) and 9 genes (ASGR2, FGF10, FGF19, HJURP, NTF3, RRM2, SLC22A1, SLC28A3 and WNT1) were down- and up- regulated in an external dataset GSE20141, respectively. All the mRNA expression levels of these 12 genes were obviously upregulated in 6-OHDA-induced SH-SY5Y cell PD model while CCNA1 and OIP5 were up- and down- regulated, respectively, in peripheral blood lymphocytes of PD patients.

Conclusion

Necroptosis and its associated inflammation play fundamental roles in the progression of PD and these identified 12 key genes might be served as new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for PD.

Long Non-Coding RNA SNHG4 Expression in Women with Endometriosis: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis is a chronic disease of the genital organs that mainly affects women of reproductive age. The analysis of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in endometriosis is a novel field of science. Recently, attention has been drawn to SNHG4, which is incorrectly expressed in various human diseases, including endometriosis.

AIM

The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the expression of lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 4 (SNHG4) and to investigate its significance in endometriosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

LncRNA SNHG4 expression was investigated in paraffin blocks in endometriosis patients (n = 100) and in endometriosis-free controls (n = 100) using a real-time PCR assay.

RESULTS

This study revealed a higher expression of SNHG4 in endometriosis patients than in controls. A statistically significant relationship between expression level and SNHG4 was found in relation to The Revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification of endometriosis, 1996, in the group of patients with endometriosis.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study has revealed that gene expression in SNHG4 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Construction of a ceRNA network in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) driven by exosomal lncRNA

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common and frustrating syndrome in women of reproductive age, is characterized by symptoms including hyperandrogenemia, ovulation dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries. The role of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks is receiving increasing attention and has been reported in multiple complicated diseases, such as various carcinomas, endometriosis, and tubal factor infertility. However, the association of ceRNA networks with the pathogenesis of PCOS remains unclear. This study aimed to construct a ceRNA network orchestrated by exosomal lnRNA and circRNA in PCOS. We screened RNA data of 34 samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database for differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), miRNAs (DEMs), mRNAs (DEGs), and circRNA associated with the progression of PCOS (PCOS, n = 17 vs. normal, n = 17). A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were conducted. Importantly, the function of the ceRNA network was explored using GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. We identified 46 DELs (25 upregulated and 21 downregulated), 31 DEMs (20 upregulated and 11 downregulated), 165 DEGs (52 upregulated and 113 downregulated), and 1 differentially expressed circRNA. The PPI network had 79 nodes and 112 edges. The GSEA results showed that these genes were mainly related to oxidative phosphorylation; TNF signaling pathways; and valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in lipid metabolism, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathways, and fatty acid metabolism. Additionally, we constructed a novel PCOS-associated lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA ceRNA triple network and a circRNA-related network. Thereafter, we described the potential roles played by follicular fluid exosomes in PCOS. Our present study describes the molecular pathogenesis of PCOS in human ovarian granulosa cells at the post-transcriptional level, which provides new insights for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PCOS and further scientific research.

Analysis of Long Non-Coding RNA (lncRNA) UCA1, MALAT1, TC0101441, and H19 Expression in Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease of complex etiology. Hormonal, immunological, and environmental factors are involved in its formation. In recent years, special attention has been paid to genetic mechanisms that can have a significant impact on the increased incidence of endometriosis. The study aimed to analyze the expression of four long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes, UCA1, MALAT1, TC0101441, and H19, in the context of the risk of developing endometriosis. The material for genetic testing for the expression of lncRNA genes were tissue slices embedded in paraffin blocks from patients with endometriosis (n = 100) and the control group (n = 100). Gene expression was determined by the RT-PCR technique. The expression of the H19 gene in endometriosis patients was statistically significantly lower than in the control group. A statistically significant association was found between H19 gene expression in relation to The Revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification of endometriosis (rASRM) in the group of patients with endometriosis. Research suggests that H19 expression plays an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.