{"paper_id":"1d104084-bb06-431c-9c98-bb7b21e6c018","body_text":"Abstract\nEndometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease that is characterized by pelvic pain and infertility. MicroRNAs have been shown to implicate in the progression of endometriosis. In our study, we used real-time PCR to evaluate the expression of miR-141-3p in endometrial samples. In addition, western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of Krüppel-like factor 12 (KLF-12). The proliferation and migration of ectopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) were determined by MTT assay and Transwell assay, respectively. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using a Cell Death Detection ELISA Plus kit. The results showed that miR-141-3p and KLF-12 were significantly different in paired ectopic and eutopic endometrial samples. miR-141-3p overexpression significantly restrained the proliferation and migration and promoted the apoptosis of ectopic ESCs, whereas a decreased level of miR-141-3p was associated with opposite results. Furthermore, dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that KLF-12 was a novel target of miR-141-3p, while it also decreased the effects of miR-141-3p on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of ectopic ESCs. Our data suggested that enhanced expression of miR-141-3p suppressed the proliferation and migration of ectopic ESCs and promoted their apoptosis via targeting KLF-12. 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All authors contributed to and approved the final manuscript.\nCorresponding author\nEthics declarations\nThe hospital ethics committee approved this study.\nConflict of interest\nThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.\nAdditional information\nPublisher’s note\nSpringer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.\nHighlights\n1. miR-141-3p is obviously decreased in endometriosis.\n2. KLF-12 is significantly upregulated in endometriosis.\n3. Restoration of miR-141-3p expression in ectopic ESCs inhibits cellular proliferation and migration.\n4. Restoration of miR-141-3p expression in ectopic ESCs induces the apoptosis in ectopic ESCs.\n5. KLF-12 is directly regulated by miR-141-3p.\n6. KLF-12 reverses the miR-141-3p-induced suppression of cell proliferation and migration.\n7. KLF-12 inhibits the miR-141-3p-mediated induction of cell apoptosis.\nRights and permissions\nAbout this article\nCite this article\nZhang, Y., Yan, J. & Pan, X. miR-141-3p affects apoptosis and migration of endometrial stromal cells by targeting KLF-12. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 471, 1055–1063 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-019-02283-2\nReceived:\nRevised:\nAccepted:\nPublished:\nVersion of record:\nIssue date:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-019-02283-2","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}