Description:
Reference #: 01010
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for this novel use of miRNAs in the treatment of endometriosis.
Invention Description:
This invention identifies specific leukocyte miRNAs to be used as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for endometriosis. In order to determine if leukocyte miRNAs may be used as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for endometriosis, the inventors used a number of peripheral blood, peritoneal fluid and endometrial tissues samples from patients with endometriosis for the investigation on the role of leukocyte miRNAs in endometriosis.
Potential Applications:
miRNA expression analysis in clinical diagnosis and treatment for endometrial patients.
Background:
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent, inflammatory disease affecting approximately 176 million women worldwide, causing both pain and infertility. Currently, there are no prognostic markers or effective treatment methods available, yet recent studies indicate that miRNAs may play a role in endometriosis.
Elucidation of roles of specific miRNAs dysregulated in endometrial patients will have great implications in understanding the pathogenesis of endometriosis and developing diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for endometriosis. So far, the role of leukocyte miRNAs in endometriosis is unknown.
Testing and Development:
Results demonstrate that immune dysregulation in endometriosis may be important in the pathophysiology of endometriosis, and specific miRNAs may be useful as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for this disease.