miR-375-3p predicts the severity of endometriosis and regulates cellular progression by targeting NOX4

Due to the complex pathogenesis of endometriosis, its early screening and development prediction are still challenging problems in the clinic. This study evaluated the significance of miR-375-3p in endometriosis onset, progression, and recurrence, aiming to identify a novel biomarker for disease diagnosis and prognosis. The study enrolled 100 patients with endometriosis and 80 healthy females. The serum miR-375-3p levels were compared between the two groups, and its diagnostic significance and predictive value were assessed by ROC and Cox regression analyses. The effect of miR-375-3p on endometriosis cell growth and motility was evaluated by CCK8 and Transwell assays. Endometriosis patients showed a lower serum miR-375-3p level relative to healthy females, and more severe the disease condition, lower the miR-375-3p in endometrial tissues is. Reducing serum miR-375-3p could discriminate endometriosis patients sensitively and specifically. Additionally, miR-375-3p was identified as a predictor for the recurrence of endometriosis together with stage, lesion size, and the levels of related hormones. In endometriosis cells, miR-375-3p was demonstrated to target NOX4 and negatively regulated its expression. Overexpressing miR-375-3p significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which was reversed by NOX4. Decreasing miR-375-3p served as a biomarker for endometriosis onset, development, and recurrence. miR-375-3p regulated endometriosis cell growth and motility via negatively modulating NOX4. •miR-375-3p was downregulated in endometriosis and reduced with disease severity.•Reducing serum miR-375-3p could discriminate endometriosis and predict recurrence.•miR-375-3p negatively regulated NOX4 in endometriosis cells.•NOX4 mediated the inhibitory effect of miR-375-3p on endometriosis cells.