Common drugs suppress endometriosis by downregulating lncRNA H19
image: Cell invasion was inhibited by the drug.
Credit: Han Gao, Xiaoxiao Gao, Wei Shao, Jiaqi Wang, Songping Liu.
Endometriosis, a chronic gynecological condition affecting roughly 190 million reproductive-age women, frustrates both patients and physicians with its high recurrence rates and limited treatment options. According to previous studies, researchers from Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, China, have verified that the expression of lncRNA H19 is a key contributor to abnormal tissue growth and endometriosis progression. They also found that four common drugs, including metformin, berberine, aspirin, and artemisinin, might suppress lncRNA H19 expression, offering potential therapeutic benefits for endometriosis treatment.
Building on these findings, the researchers continued to explore the effectiveness of these four common drugs in treating endometriosis. Their research findings were recently published in Reproductive and Developmental Medicine.
The results found that all four tested drugs successfully reduced H19 expression, with metformin and berberine showing particularly strong effects. This suggests that these drugs could offer a more targeted treatment strategy compared to current treatment options, which often come with significant side effects.
What makes this discovery noteworthy is the potential to repurpose widely available medications. Metformin, commonly used for diabetes, and berberine, a natural compound from herbs, both demonstrated strong effects in suppressing endometriosis-related mechanisms.
"It’s amazing to see that these common medicines can control the expression of lncRNA H19 and potentially mitigate endometriosis," said Dr. Song-Ping Liu, the corresponding author. "This opens up new avenues for more effective treatments that are already out there and are known to be safe." While the results are encouraging, the researchers emphasize the need for further studies to confirm these effects in clinical trials. If validated, this approach could mark a great leap in managing endometriosis, which inflicts millions of women worldwide, offering new hope for long-term relief.