microRNA miR-200b differentially affects proliferation, invasiveness and stemness of endometriotic cells by targeting the transcription factors KLF4, ZEB1 and ZEB2

Introduction: Endometriosis is a hormone-dependent disease characterized by growth of endometrial tissue at ectopic locations. Recent results indicate a dysregulation of microRNAs, small non-coding posttransciprional regulators of gene expression in endometriosis, suggesting a role in the pathogenetic process. In this study, we investigated the functional impact of miR-200b, a microRNA downregulated in endometriosis, on the immortalized endometriotic cell line 12Z and primary endometriotic stroma cells in vitro.