MicroRNAs miR-30b, miR-30d, and miR-494 Regulate Human Endometrial Receptivity

• Published in: Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 308 - 317
• Main Authors: Altmäe, Signe, Martinez-Conejero, Jose A., Esteban, Francisco J., Ruiz-Alonso, Maria, Stavreus-Evers, Anneli, Horcajadas, Jose A., Salumets, Andres
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.03.2013; Springer International Publishing
• Subjects: Adult; Algorithms; Apoptosis; Axon guidance; catenin; Cell proliferation; Data processing; DNA microarrays; Embryology; Endometrium; Endometrium - physiology; epigenetics; Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; Extravasation; Female; Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene Targeting - methods; Humans; Leukocytes; MAP kinase; Medicine & Public Health; MicroRNAs - biosynthesis; miRNA; mRNA; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Original; Original Article; p53 protein; Post-transcription; Reproductive Medicine; Transcription; Transforming growth factor- beta; Wnt protein; miRNA; microarray; endometrial receptivity; female infertility; gene expression
• ISSN: 1933-7191; 1933-7205; 1933-7205
• DOI: 10.1177/1933719112453507

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as important epigenetic posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. We aimed to gain more understanding of the complex gene expression regulation of endometrial receptivity by analyzing miRNA signatures of fertile human endometria. We set up to analyze miRNA signatures of receptive (LH + 7, n = 4) versus prereceptive (LH + 2, n = 5) endometrium from healthy fertile women. We found hsa-miR-30b and hsa-miR-30d to be significantly upregulated, and hsa-miR-494 and hsa-miR-923 to be downregulated in receptive endometrium. Three algorithms (miRanda, PicTar, and TargetScan) were used for target gene prediction. Functional analyses of the targets using Ingenuity Pathways Analysis and The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery indicated roles in transcription, cell proliferation and apoptosis, and significant involvement in several relevant pathways, such as axon guidance, Wnt/β-catenin, ERK/MAPK, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), p53 and leukocyte extravasation. Comparison of predicted miRNA target genes and our previous messenger RNA microarray data resulted in a list of 12 genes, including CAST, CFTR, FGFR2, and LIF that could serve as a panel of genes important for endometrial receptivity. In conclusion, we suggest that a subset of miRNAs and their target genes may play important roles in endometrial receptivity.