Exploring diagnostic m6A regulators in endometriosis

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disorder, usually causing infertility, pelvic pain, and ovarian masses. This study intended to investigate the implication of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulators in endometriosis. We acquired 34 normal, 127 eutopic, and 46 ectopic, samples of endometrium from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE7305, GSE7307, GSE51981) database and the Array-express (E-MTAB-694) database. These samples were then used to profile the expression of 20 m6A regulators in endometriosis. The results indicates that most dysregulated (19/20) m6A regulators were significantly downregulated in eutopic vs. normal endometrium and also significantly downregulated in ectopic vs. eutopic endometrium. Several dysregulated m6A regulators were common to both contrast matrices: METTL3, YTHDF2, YTHDF3, HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPC, and FTO. Both HNRNPA2B1 and HNRNPC were associated with the severity of endometriosis in eutopic samples, and also exhibited dignostic potential for endometriosis. HNRNPA2B1 and HNRNPC may influence immune pathways and the infiltrtion of immune cells in endometriosis. Abnormalities in the gene transcription factors network associated with endometriosis might affect the expression of HNRNPA2B1 and HNRNPC. In conclusion, we observed significant dysregulation of m6A regulators in endometriosis, and found that HNRNPA2B1 and HNRNPC might with the immune response and serve as useful dignostic biomarkers for endometriosis.