en Molecular Genetics & Genomics Molecular Genetics & Genomics مقاله کوتاه Short Communication <strong>Background:</strong> Any irregularities in self-renewal/differentiation balance in endometriotic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can change their fate and function, resulting in endometriosis development. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of <em>OCT4 </em>transcripts (<em>OCT4A</em>, <em>OCT4B</em>, and <em>OCT4B1</em>), <em>SOX2</em>, and <em>NANOG</em> in endometriotic MSCs to show their aberrant expression and to support self-renewal/differentiation imbalance in these cells. <strong>Methods:</strong> MSCs were isolated from three endometriotic and three normal endometrium samples and characterized and analyzed for the expressions of <em>OCT4A</em>, <em>OCT4B</em>, <em>OCT4B1</em>, <em>SOX2</em>, and <em>NANOG</em> using the quantitative real-time PCR. <strong>Results:</strong> The expressions of <em>OCT4 transcripts </em>and <em>NANOG</em> increased significantly in endometriotic MSCs, whereas <em>SOX2</em> expression did not show any significant difference. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings provide further evidence for confirming the self-renewal/ differentiation imbalance in endometriotic MSCs, as the main underlying cause of endometriosis development. This study also paves the way for further research on endometriosis treatment by focusing on endometriotic stem cells. Endometriosis, Mesenchymal stem cells, Transcription factors 333 339 http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-823&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Parisa Mashayekhi 0000-0002-6373-3266 No Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Mehrdad Noruzinia 0000-0002-1325-3758 Yes Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Sepideh Khodaverdi 0000-0002-0340-9683 No Endometriosis Research Center, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran