Role of Salivary MicroRNA as a Marker of Progesterone Resistance in Endometriosis: Preliminary Results from a Single-Institution Experience

Matilde Degano, Giorgia Vesca, Michela Bulfoni, Silvia Zermano, Stefano Restaino, Martina Arcieri, Errico Zupi, Renato Seracchioli, Lorenza Driul, Daniela Cesselli, Giovanni Scambia, Anna Biasioli, Giuseppe Vizzielli
Biomolecules · 2025 · vol. 15(4) , pp. 493 · doi:10.3390/biom15040493 · PMID:40305232 · W4408929096
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This study identified distinct salivary microRNA profiles in endometriosis patients who responded or did not respond to progestin treatment, suggesting potential non-invasive biomarkers for assessing therapeutic outcomes.

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Abstract

This feasibility study explores the potential of salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosing endometriosis and assessing treatment response. Almost one-third of patients with endometriosis do not respond to the standard progestin treatment due to various mechanisms of progesterone resistance. MiRNAs, recognized for their stability in body fluids and role in gene regulation, may offer new diagnostic and prognostic opportunities as they are involved in the pathogenic pathways of endometriosis and progesterone resistance. We sequenced salivary miRNAs in three cohorts of patients: control women without endometriosis and patients with endometriosis who responded and did not respond to standard progestin treatment. This aims to identify the differential miRNA expression profiles associated with therapeutic response to dienogest. The preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of miRNA sequencing from saliva and reveal distinct miRNA profiles between responders, non-responders, and controls. Key miRNAs, including mir-3168, the mir-200a family, and mir-93-5p, emerged as potential biomarkers, showing significant differential expression linked to both endometriosis presence and treatment response. Further validation of these findings in larger cohorts could pave the way for miRNA-based diagnostic and prognostic tools, potentially reducing diagnostic delays and personalizing treatment approaches for endometriosis patients, also with new target therapies.

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Outcome instruments

NRS-pain

Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (71)

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