Mahdi Saber Al-Deresawi (1), Aseel Razaq Al-Rekabi (2)
Endometriosis (EMS) is a complex gynecological disorder characterized by chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and inflammatory dysregulation, affecting women of reproductive age. Emerging evidence highlights the role of microRNAs in EMS pathophysiology through their regulatory effects on genes involved in reproductive function, immune response, and hormonal balance, particularly the HOXA gene family. Despite growing interest, limited clinical studies have evaluated the regulatory relationship between miR-139-5p, HOXA9, and HOXA10 expression and their association with hormonal and immunological alterations in EMS patients. This study aimed to investigate the expression of miR-139-5p and its regulatory impact on HOXA9 and HOXA10 genes, and to assess their correlation with reproductive hormones, immunological markers, and body mass index in women with endometriosis. Fifty EMS patients and twenty-five healthy controls were evaluated. miR-139-5p expression was significantly upregulated in EMS patients, while HOXA9 and HOXA10 expressions were significantly downregulated. Hormonal analysis showed significantly decreased LH and FSH levels and increased testosterone levels, with no significant difference in estradiol. Immunological markers IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α were significantly elevated in EMS patients. An inverse relationship was observed between miR-139-5p expression and HOXA gene expression, alongside correlations with altered hormonal and immunological parameters. This study elucidates a regulatory axis linking miR-139-5p overexpression to HOXA gene suppression in EMS. These findings enhance understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying endometriosis and may support future diagnostic or therapeutic strategies targeting microRNA-mediated regulation.
Highlights
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