miRNA expression profiles in decidualized and non-decidualized endometriotic cyst stromal cells (ECSCs).

To identify the miRNAs which regulate the decidualization of ECSCs, we explored differentially expressed miRNAs between untreated ECSCs (n=4) and decidualized ECSCs (n=4) using miRNA microarray. The miRNA expression profiles in untreated ECSCs and decidualized ECSCs were obtained, then the miRNAs were filtered by signal intensity (50.0<, at least one out of 8 samples have values within range) and flags (at least 17% of cases have good flags). We established the criteria for regulated genes: ratio ≥2.0-fold for up-regulated genes and ratio ≤0.5 for down-regulated genes. The primary culture of untreated ECSCs and decidualized ECSCs were utilized. Decidualization of cultured ECSCs was induced by 12 days-culture with a combination of 0.5 mM of dibutyryl-cAMP and 100 nM of dienogest in the presence of 10% charcoal-stripped heat-inactivated FBS. Total RNA was extracted from these samples, and miRNA microarray analysis was performed. The miRNAs differentially expressed between untreated ECSCs and decidualized ECSCs were identified, and aberrantly expressed miRNA in ECSCs were defined as the decidualization related miRNA.