Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42415215›Full record

ArticleBiological research2026

FOXQ1 promotes endometriosis development by enhancing mitochondrial function.

Yu Liu, Mei Chi, Yan Lei, Jing Jin, Xiaojing Lei, Shu Zhang, Qingmei Guan, Ling Zhang, Xin Du

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biological research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yu Liu *Department of Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5926-4284
Mei Chi *Department of Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China.
Yan Lei *Department of Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China.
Jing Jin *Department of Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China.
Xiaojing LeiDepartment of Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China.
Shu ZhangDepartment of Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China.
Qingmei GuanDepartment of Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China.
Ling ZhangInstitute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.
Xin DuDepartment of Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China. 2873819462@qq.com.

Funding

Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province Research Project 2023SFYM002Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China 2024AFB1062
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEndometriosis (EMs) is a pathological condition characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. This study aimed to investigate the role of FOXQ1 in the pathogenesis of EMs, particularly through its regulation of mitochondrial function.

methodsEutopic endometrial, ovarian EMs, pelvic sidewall EMs, and bowel EMs samples were obtained from 76 patients undergoing laparoscopic or hysteroscopic surgery. The expression levels of FOXQ1 in EMs tissues were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot analysis. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-8, were quantified in FOXQ1 overexpression (OE) and FOXQ1 knockdown (siFOXQ1) groups using RT-qPCR. Mitochondrial function in these groups, using primary human endometrial epithelial cells (hEECs), was evaluated by assessing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content, ATP production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, oxygen consumption rate (OCR), and MitoTracker staining. The in vitro effects of FOXQ1 on EMs were further examined in hEECs by analyzing cellular apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, and migration.

resultsThe expression of FOXQ1 was markedly elevated in endometriotic lesions, such as those on the pelvic sidewall and bowel, compared to control samples, with localization specifically observed in endometrial epithelial cells. Functional assays conducted on hEECs demonstrated that overexpression of FOXQ1 inhibited apoptosis, upregulated critical inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8), and promoted cellular proliferation, invasion, and migration. These effects appear to be mediated by enhanced mitochondrial function, as indicated by increased mtDNA content, ATP production, ROS levels, OCR, and MitoTracker signal. Conversely, the group treated with siFOXQ1 exhibited the opposite effects. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve for FOXQ1 was 0.8784.

conclusionsFOXQ1 facilitates the progression of endometriosis by enhancing mitochondrial function, which subsequently stimulates inflammatory responses and promotes critical cellular processes such as proliferation, invasion, and migration.

Indexed as

EndometriosisForkhead Transcription FactorsMitochondriaAdultApoptosisBlotting, WesternCell MovementCell ProliferationCytokinesEndometriumFemaleHumansReactive Oxygen SpeciesCytokinesForkhead Transcription FactorsFOXQ1 protein, humanReactive Oxygen SpeciesEndometriosisFOXQ1InvasionMigrationMitochondrial function

Identifiers

PMID42415215
PMCPMC13625452

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.