Non-Coding RNAs in Endometrial Physiopathology

Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jul 20;19(7):2120. doi: 10.3390/ijms19072120.

Abstract

The Human Genome Project led to the discovery that about 80% of our DNA is transcribed in RNA molecules. Only 2% of the human genome is translated into proteins, the rest mostly produces molecules called non-coding RNAs, which are a heterogeneous class of RNAs involved in different steps of gene regulation. They have been classified, according to their length, into small non-coding RNAs and long non-coding RNAs, or to their function, into housekeeping non-coding RNAs and regulatory non-coding RNAs. Their involvement has been widely demonstrated in all cellular processes, as well as their dysregulation in human pathologies. In this review, we discuss the function of non-coding RNAs in endometrial physiology, analysing their involvement in embryo implantation. Moreover, we explore their role in endometrial pathologies such as endometrial cancer, endometriosis and chronic endometritis.

Keywords: chronic endometritis; endometrial cancer; endometriosis; lncRNAs; miRNA.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Endometriosis / metabolism
  • Endometriosis / physiopathology
  • Endometrium / metabolism*
  • Endometrium / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / physiology
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / physiology

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Long Noncoding