| Abstract: | Endometriosis is a common, chronic gynaecologic disease affecting up to 10% of women in their reproductive age and leading to pain and infertility. Oestrogen (E2)‐induced epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) process has been considered as a key factor of endometriosis development. Recently, the dysregulated circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been discovered in endometriosis tissues. However, the molecular mechanism of circRNAs on the E2‐induced EMT process in endometriosis is still unknown. Here, we demonstrated that circ_0004712 up‐regulated by E2 treatment in endometrial epithelial cells. Knock‐down the expression of circ_0004712 significantly suppressed E2‐induced cell migration activity. Meanwhile, we identified miR‐148a‐3p as a potential target miRNA of circ_0004712. Inhibited the expression of miR‐148a‐3p could recovered the effect of circ_0004712 knock‐down in E2‐treated endometrial epithelial. Furthermore, Western blot assay showed that E2 treatment could increase the expression and activity of β‐catenin, snail and N‐cadherin and reduce the expression of E‐cadherin. The expression and activity of β‐catenin pathway were recovered by circ_0004712 knock‐down or miR‐148a‐3p overexpression. Altogether, the results demonstrate that circ_0004712/miR‐148a‐3p plays an important role in E2‐induced EMT process in the development of endometriosis, and the molecular mechanism may be associated with the β‐catenin pathway. This work highlighted the importance of circRNAs in the development of endometriosis and provide a new biomarker for diagnosis and therapies. |
