microRNA-141 inhibits TGF-β1-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition through inhibition of the TGF-β1/SMAD2 signalling pathway in endometriosis.

Purpose: Recent studies have demonstrated the differential expression of micro(mi)RNAs in endometriosis. Previously, we reported the low expression of miR-141 in patients with this disease. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1)-induced SMAD2 signalling pathway are central to tumour proliferation and invasion. However, the role of miR-141 in regulating the TGF-β1/SMAD2 signalling pathway and the associated EMT to be elucidated.

Methods: The levels of TGF-β1/SMAD2 signalling and EMT markers expression in eutopic and ectopic endometria of endometriosis were determined by immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses. MiR-141 expression was analysed by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Cellular invasion and proliferation were determined by transwell and CCK-8 assays, respectively. Functional assay of miR-141 was performed using plasmid and shRNA transfection methods.

Result: The presence of miR-141, EMT, and TGF-β1/SMAD2 signalling markers were detected in eutopic and ectopic endometria of endometriosis. TGF-β1-induced EMT in Ishikawa (ISK) cells by activating the SMAD2 signalling pathway, whereas miR-141 inhibited the TGF-β1-induced EMT, proliferation and invasion abilities of these cells.

Conclusion: These data identify miR-141 as a novel driver of EMT in endometriosis, implicates the link between miR-141 and TGF-β1/SMAD2 signalling pathway in the context of endometriosis, and underscore the role of EMT in the development of endometriosis.