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Dymanowska-Dyjak I, Frankowska K, Abramiuk M, Polak G. Oxidative Imbalance in Endometriosis-Related Infertility-The Therapeutic Role of Antioxidants. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6298. [PMID: 38928002 PMCID: PMC11204103 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis in half of affected women is closely related to problems with fertility. Endometriosis-associated infertility is caused by a wide range of abnormalities affecting the female reproductive tract, from oocyte quality impairment to disturbances in the eutopic endometrium or mechanical abnormalities resulting from disease progression. Since supportive antioxidant therapies, in addition to surgical treatment or assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs), have overall been proven to be effective tools in endometriosis management, the objective of our review was to analyze the role of antioxidant substances, including vitamins, micronutrients, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), curcumin, melatonin, and resveratrol, in endometriosis-related infertility. Most of these substances have been proven to alleviate the systemic oxidant predominance, which has been expressed through decreased oxidative stress (OS) markers and enhanced antioxidative defense. In addition, we demonstrated that the predominant effect of the aforementioned substances is the inhibition of the development of endometriotic lesions as well as the suppression of pro-inflammatory molecules. Although we can undoubtedly conclude that antioxidants are beneficial in fertility support, further studies explaining the detailed pathways of their action are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Dymanowska-Dyjak
- Independent Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Gynecology and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland; (I.D.-D.); (M.A.)
| | - Karolina Frankowska
- Student Scientific Association, Independent Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Gynecology and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
| | - Monika Abramiuk
- Independent Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Gynecology and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland; (I.D.-D.); (M.A.)
| | - Grzegorz Polak
- Independent Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Gynecology and Gynecological Endocrinology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland; (I.D.-D.); (M.A.)
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Molecular Influence of the ATM Protein in the Treatment of Human Cells with Different Radioprotective Drugs: Comparisons between Antioxidative and Pro-Episkevic Strategies. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030524. [PMID: 36979459 PMCID: PMC10046588 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The radiation protection strategy with chemical agents has long been based on an antioxidative approach consisting in reducing the number of radical oxygen and nitrogen species responsible for the formation of the radiation-induced (RI) DNA damage, notably the DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), whose subset participates in the RI lethal effect as unrepairable damage. Conversely, a DSB repair-stimulating strategy that may be called the “pro-episkevic” approach (from the ancient Greek episkeve, meaning repair) can be proposed. The pro-episkevic approach directly derives from a mechanistic model based on the RI nucleoshuttling of the ATM protein (RIANS) and contributes to increase the number of DSB managed by NHEJ, the most predominant DSB repair and signaling pathway in mammalians. Here, three radioresistant and three radiosensitive human fibroblast cell lines were pretreated with antioxidative agents (N-acetylcysteine or amifostine) or to two pro-episkevic agents (zoledronate or pravastatin or both (ZOPRA)) before X-ray irradiation. The fate of the RI DSB was analyzed by using γH2AX and pATM immunofluorescence. While amifostine pretreatment appeared to be the most efficient antioxidative process, ZOPRA shows the most powerful radiation protection, suggesting that the pro-episkevic strategy may be an alternative to the antioxidative one. Additional investigations are needed to develop some new drugs that may elicit both antioxidative and pro-episkevic properties and to quantify the radiation protection action of both types of drugs applied concomitantly.
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Assaf L, Eid AA, Nassif J. Role of AMPK/mTOR, mitochondria, and ROS in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Life Sci 2022; 306:120805. [PMID: 35850246 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity usually in the ovaries, fallopian tube, and pelvic cavity. It's a chronic enigmatic gynecological condition associated with dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and infertility. Endometriosis lesions exist in a unique microenvironment characterized by increased concentrations of hormones, inflammation, and oxidative stress. This environment promotes cell survival through the binding of membrane receptors and subsequent cascading activation of intracellular kinases that stimulate a cellular response. In endometriosis, well-established signaling pathways, mTOR and AMPK, are altered via steroid hormones and other factors to promote cell growth, migration, and proliferation. This is accompanied by dysfunction in the mitochondria that increase energy production to sustain proliferation demands consequently leading to reactive oxygen species overproduction. This review aims to summarize the role of altered mTOR/AMPK signaling pathway, mitochondrial dysfunction, and reactive oxygen species overproduction along with providing therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. Highlighting these factors would provide a better understanding to reach a coherent theory for the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lama Assaf
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; AUB Diabetes, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Assaad A Eid
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; AUB Diabetes, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Joseph Nassif
- Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Asgari Z, Moini A, Montazeri A, Tavoli Z, Hosseini L, Hosseini R, Tehranian A, Karimi R. Comparing the effect of adjunctive N-acetylcysteine plus low dose contraceptive with low dose contraceptive alone on recurrence of ovarian endometrioma and chronic pelvic pain after conservative laparoscopic surgery: a randomised clinical trial study. J OBSTET GYNAECOL 2022; 42:1493-1497. [PMID: 34994286 DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2021.2006165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of NAC plus low dose contraceptive with low dose contraceptives alone. This was a randomised trial on a sample of women who underwent conservative laparoscopic surgery for ovarian endometrioma. Patients were randomly assigned either to the NAC plus low dose contraceptive group (n = 48) or low dose contraceptive alone (n = 52). To evaluate the recurrence rate transvaginal ultrasound was performed. Pelvic pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). All assessments were performed at two points in time: 3 and 6 months post-surgery and compared between the two regimens. The findings indicated that reduction in the recurrence rate of endometrioma and pelvic pain were similar between both groups. The findings showed that adding N-acetylcysteine to low dose contraceptive treatment has a similar effect in reducing the recurrence rate of endometrioma and pelvic pain when compared to low dose contraceptives alone.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Endometriosis is a frequent benign disease-producing inflammatory response with mild to severe symptoms. Although surgical removal of ectopic lesions is the first-line intervention, the recurrence rate of the disease is high. Thus this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine plus low dose contraceptive with low dose contraceptive alone.What do the results of this study add? The findings showed that adding N-acetylcysteine to low dose contraceptive treatment has a similar effect in reducing the recurrence rate of endometrioma and pelvic pain when compared to low dose contraceptives alone.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? It is recommended to increase the duration of drug administration in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Asgari
- Departments of Minimally Invasive Gynaecologic Surgery, Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ashraf Moini
- Departments of Minimally Invasive Gynaecologic Surgery, Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Montazeri
- Health Metrics Research Centre, Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Tavoli
- Departments of Minimally Invasive Gynaecologic Surgery, Ziaeeyan Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ladan Hosseini
- Research Development Center, Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reihaneh Hosseini
- Departments of Minimally Invasive Gynaecologic Surgery, Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Tehranian
- Departments of Minimally Invasive Gynaecologic Surgery, Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rana Karimi
- Departments of Minimally Invasive Gynaecologic Surgery, Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Cakmak Arslan G, Severcan F. The effects of radioprotectant and potential antioxidant agent amifostine on the structure and dynamics of DPPC and DPPG liposomes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2019; 1861:1240-1251. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Lete I, Mendoza N, de la Viuda E, Carmona F. Effectiveness of an antioxidant preparation with N-acetyl cysteine, alpha lipoic acid and bromelain in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain: LEAP study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2018; 228:221-224. [PMID: 30007250 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of an antioxidant preparation with N-acetyl cysteine, alpha lipoic acid and bromelain on endometriosis-associated pelvic pain. STUDY DESIGN Multicenter, open-label, non-comparative clinical trial in a representative sample of women with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain. RESULTS In total, 398 patients with a mean age of 34.6 ± 7.2 years were treated with a combination of N-acetyl cysteine, alpha lipoic acid and bromelain for 6 months. At baseline, 92.7% of the patients had pain intensity > 4 on the visual analogue scale (VAS); at 3 months of treatment, this percentage decreased to 87.2% (p = 0.074) and at 6 months the percentage was 82.7% (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Women with endometriosis who wish to become pregnant and are treated with a preparation containing N-acetyl cysteine, alpha lipoic acid and bromelain experienced a significant improvement in endometriosis-associated pelvic pain and required lower intake of rescue analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iñaki Lete
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Universitario Araba, Vitoria, Spain; Universidad del País Vasco, Vitoria, Spain.
| | - Nicolás Mendoza
- Clínica Margen, Granada, Spain; Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Esther de la Viuda
- Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Spain; Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Carmona
- Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain; Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Signorile PG, Viceconte R, Baldi A. Novel dietary supplement association reduces symptoms in endometriosis patients. J Cell Physiol 2018; 233:5920-5925. [PMID: 29243819 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Endometriosis is characterized by disabling symptoms that afflict young women with severe physical discomfort, difficulty in relationship life, and infertility; however, the currently available therapeutic strategies are unsatisfactory. Goal of this research was to identify a new combination of natural active ingredients that, administered as dietary supplements, could have the effect of reducing inflammatory response in endometriosis patients, decreasing the symptoms the disease produces and its harmful effects on affected organs. A cohort of endometriosis patient was treated for 3 months with a composition including quercitin, curcumin, parthenium, nicotinamide, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, and omega 3/6. Using a VAS scale, we demonstrated a significant reduction of the symptoms in endometriosis patients treated with the dietary composition respect to the controls. Moreover, we demonstrated also a significant reduction in the serum levels of PGE2 and CA-125. Further study are required to compare the effect of this combination of molecules with standard therapies and to evaluate if the use of these dietary supplements in combination with standard therapies may lead to the improvement of the regular medical treatment for endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alfonso Baldi
- Italian Endometriosis Foundation, Formello, Rome, Italy.,Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli,", Caserta, Italy
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Endometriosis affects 10% of women of reproductive age. It is defined as the presence of implanted active endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. The exact pathophysiology of endometriosis is still uncertain, although several optional etiological theories have been suggested. Being so common, a novel treatment for endometriosis is widely quested. Recent studies addressing the pathological characteristics of endometriosis have revealed a vicious cycle in which oxidative stress (OS) is generated, which in turn facilitates the implantation of the ectopic endometrium. At the same time, the generation of high amounts of reactive oxygen species further triggers a state of OS. AREAS COVERED The author examined the evidence associating OS and endometriosis. After establishing an association, a search for antioxidant agents that were investigated specifically on endometriosis patients are described including Vitamins C and E, melatonin, resveratrol, xanthohumol and epigallocatechin-3-gallate. A significant effect of all the reviewed antioxidants on endometriosis is reported. EXPERT OPINION Aiming for the reduction of OS as the treatment goal for endometriosis looks promising. However, since most of the studies are either in vitro or are animal based, further studies on human subjects are deemed necessary to elucidate the impact of OS reduction on patients with endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avi Harlev
- a 1 American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland , OH, USA.,b 2 Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Faculty of Health Sciences, Soroka University Medical Center, Fertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Israel
| | - Sajal Gupta
- a 1 American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland , OH, USA
| | - Ashok Agarwal
- c 3 American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic , Mail Code: X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA +1 216 444 9485 ; +1 216 445 6049;
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Che XH, Chen YC, Chen CL, Ye XL, Zhu H. Non-hormonal targets underlying endometriosis: A focus on molecular mechanisms. Mol Reprod Dev 2015; 82:410-31. [PMID: 25982890 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-hang Che
- Division of Drugs and Pharmacology; Ningbo Institute of Medical Sciences; Ningbo China
- College of Chemistry and Bio-engineering; Yichun University; Yichun China
- Cancer Institute; Yinzhou People's Hospital; Ningbo China
| | - Yi-chen Chen
- Division of Drugs and Pharmacology; Ningbo Institute of Medical Sciences; Ningbo China
| | - Chun-lin Chen
- College of Chemistry and Bio-engineering; Yichun University; Yichun China
| | - Xiao-lei Ye
- Division of Drugs and Pharmacology; Ningbo Institute of Medical Sciences; Ningbo China
- Cancer Institute; Yinzhou People's Hospital; Ningbo China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University School of Medicine; Ningbo China
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The combination of N-acetyl cysteine, alpha-lipoic acid, and bromelain shows high anti-inflammatory properties in novel in vivo and in vitro models of endometriosis. Mediators Inflamm 2015; 2015:918089. [PMID: 25960622 PMCID: PMC4415658 DOI: 10.1155/2015/918089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
To evaluate the efficacy of an association of N-acetyl cystein, alpha-lipoic acid, and bromelain (NAC/LA/Br) in the treatment of endometriosis we set up a new in vivo murine model. We explored the anti-inflammatory and proapoptotic effect of this combination on human endometriotic endothelial cells (EECs) and on endothelial cells isolated from normal uterus (UtMECs). We implanted fragments of human endometriotic cysts intraperitoneally into SCID mice to evaluate the efficacy of NAC/LA/Br treatment. UtMECs and EECs, untreated or treated with NAC/LA/Br, were activated with the proinflammatory stimulus TNF-α and their response in terms of VCAM1 expression was evaluated. The proapoptotic effect of higher doses of NAC/LA/Br on UtMECs and EECs was measured with a fluorogenic substrate for activated caspases 3 and 7. The preincubation of EECs with NAC/LA/Br prior to cell stimulation with TNF-α prevents the upregulation of the expression of the inflammatory “marker” VCAM1. Furthermore NAC/LA/Br were able to induce EEC, but not UtMEC, apoptosis. Finally, the novel mouse model allowed us to demonstrate that mice treated with NAC/LA/Br presented a lower number of cysts, smaller in size, compared to untreated mice. Our findings suggest that these dietary supplements may have potential therapeutic uses in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases like endometriosis.
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Melatonin causes regression of endometriotic implants in rats by modulating angiogenesis, tissue levels of antioxidants and matrix metalloproteinases. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2014; 292:209-16. [DOI: 10.1007/s00404-014-3599-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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