Interactions between miRNAs and the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a disease characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial tissue (glands and stroma) outside the confines of the uterus and often involves vital organs such as the intestines and urinary system. Endometriosis is considered a refractory disease owing to its enigmatic etiology, propensity for recurrence following conservative or surgical interventions, and the absence of radical treatment and long-term management. In recent years, the incidence of endometriosis has gradually increased, rendering it a pressing concern among women of childbearing age. A more profound understanding of its pathogenesis can significantly improve prognosis. Recent research endeavors have spotlighted the molecular mechanisms by which microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the occurrence and progression of endometriosis. Many miRNAs have been reported to be aberrantly expressed in the affected tissues of both patients and animal models. These miRNAs actively participate in the regulation of inflammatory reactions, cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling. Their capacity to modulate crucial signaling pathways, such as the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, reinforces their potential utility as diagnostic markers or therapeutic agents for endometriosis. In this review, we provide the latest insights into the role of miRNAs that interact with the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway to regulate the biological behaviors of endometriosis cells and disease-related symptoms, such as pain and infertility. We hope that this review will provide novel insights and promising targets for innovative therapies addressing endometriosis.

Construction of Bone Metastasis-Specific Regulation Network Based on Prognostic Stemness-Related Signatures in Breast Invasive Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Bone is the most common metastatic site of Breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA). In this study, the bone metastasis-specific regulation network of BRCA was constructed based on prognostic stemness-related signatures (PSRSs), their upstream transcription factors (TFs) and downstream pathways. METHODS: Clinical information and RNA-seq data of 1,080 primary BRCA samples (1,048 samples without bone metastasis and 32 samples with bone metastasis) were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The edgeR method was performed to identify differential expressed genes (DEGs). Next, mRNA stemness index (mRNAsi) was calculated by one-class logistic regression (OCLR). To analyze DEGs by classification, similar genes were integrated into the same module by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Then, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression were applied to find the PSRSs. Furthermore, PSRSs, 318 TFs obtained from Cistrome database and 50 hallmark pathways quantified by GSVA were integrated into co-expression analysis. Significant co-expression patterns were used to construct the bone metastasis-specific regulation network. Finally, spatial single-cell RNA-seq and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequence (ChIP-seq) data and multi-omics databases were applied to validate the key scientific hypothesis in the regulation network. Additionally, Connectivity Map (CMap) was utilized to select the potential inhibitors of bone metastasis-specific regulation network in BRCA. RESULTS: Based on edgeR and WGCNA method, 43 PSRSs were identified. In the bone metastasis-specific regulation network, MAF positively regulated CD248 (R = 0.435, P < 0.001), and hallmark apical junction was the potential pathway of CD248 (R = 0.353, P < 0.001). This regulatory pattern was supported by spatial single-cell RNA sequence, ChIP-seq data and multi-omics online databases. Additionally, alexidine was identified as the possible inhibitor for bone metastasis of BRCA by CMap analysis. CONCLUSION: PSRSs played important roles in bone metastasis of BRCA, and the prognostic model based on PSRSs showed good performance. Especially, we proposed that CD248 was the most significant PSRS, which was positively regulated by MAF, influenced bone metastasis via apical junction pathway. And this axis might be inhibited by alexidine, which providing a potential treatment strategy for bone metastasis of BRCA.