Clinical markers of endometriosis: Have we been too quick to judge?

Altered Differential Expression of Genes and microRNAs Related to Adhesion and Apoptosis Pathways in Patients with Different Phenotypes of Endometriosis

We aim to investigate the expression of genes (MAPK1 and CAPN2) and microRNAs (miR-30a-5p, miR-7-5p, miR-143-3p, and miR-93-5p) involved in adhesion and apoptosis pathways in superficial peritoneal endometriosis (SE), deep infiltrating endometriosis (DE), and ovarian endometrioma (OE), and to evaluate whether these lesions share the same pathophysiological mechanisms. We used samples of SE (n = 10), DE (n = 10), and OE (n = 10), and endometrial biopsies of these respective patients affected with endometriosis under treatment at a tertiary University Hospital. Endometrial biopsies collected in the tubal ligation procedure from women without endometriosis comprised the control group (n = 10). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed. The expression of MAPK1 (p < 0.0001), miR-93-5p (p = 0.0168), and miR-7-5p (p = 0.0006) was significantly lower in the SE group than in the DE and OE groups. The expression of miR-30a (p = 0.0018) and miR-93 (p = 0.0052) was significantly upregulated in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis compared to the controls. MiR-143 (p = 0.0225) expression also showed a statistical difference between the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis and the control group. In summary, SE showed lower pro-survival gene expression and miRNAs involved in this pathway, indicating that this phenotype has a different pathophysiological mechanism compared to DE and OE.

Endometriosis in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: Specific symptomatic and demographic profile, and response to the low FODMAP diet

BACKGROUND

Women with endometriosis are frequently misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for some time before a correct diagnosis is made. Visceral hypersensitivity is a key feature in both conditions.

AIMS

To determine if there are distinct symptom patterns in women with IBS and endometriosis, and to determine the response of these women to a low FODMAP diet in comparison to those with IBS alone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from women attending a specialist IBS service in Christchurch New Zealand. Data from those who met Rome III criteria for IBS were sorted into two groups: concurrent endometriosis and those with IBS alone. Demographics and symptom patterns were identified from a prospective questionnaire. A low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) diet was taught to all women as the primary therapeutic intervention. Responses to the diet were noted against their ultimate disposition.

RESULTS

Of the 160 women who met Rome III criteria for IBS, 36% had concurrent endometriosis. The presence of dyspareunia (P > 0.0001), referred pain (P = 0.005), bowel symptoms exacerbated by menstruation (P = 0.0004) and a family history of endometriosis (P = 0.0003) were associated with concurrent endometriosis. Seventy two percent of these women reported a >50% improvement in bowel symptoms after four weeks of a low FODMAP diet compared with 49% in those with no known endometriosis (P = 0.001, odds ratio 3.11, 95% CI, 1.5-6.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with concurrent endometriosis and IBS report a unique symptom phenotype. The low FODMAP diet appears effective in women with gut symptoms and endometriosis.

Circulating miR-200-family micro-RNAs have altered plasma levels in patients with endometriosis and vary with blood collection time

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether circulating micro-RNA (miR) 200a, miR-200b, and miR-141 have altered levels in patients with endometriosis compared with control individuals.

DESIGN

Experimental laboratory study.

SETTING

University.

PATIENT(S)

Patients with endometriosis (n = 61), laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis-free women (n = 35), and self-reported healthy women (n = 30) were included in the study.

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Plasma miRNA levels in endometriosis patients and control subjects.

RESULT(S)

We found that the levels of studied miRNAs varied with blood collection time, being lower in the morning than in the evening. When blood collection time was taken into account, the results revealed significantly lower levels of miR-200a and miR-141 in the evening plasma samples of women with endometriosis compared with surgically confirmed disease-free patients. However, the evening-sample levels of all three miRNAs were significantly lower in patients with stage I-II endometriosis than in endometriosis-free control subjects. In cases of stage III-IV endometriosis, only miR-200a levels were significantly lower compared with patients without endometriosis. Circulating miR-200a showed the best discriminative power to differentiate women with endometriosis from patients with similar complaints but without the disease.

CONCLUSION(S)

Our findings suggest that miR-200a and miR-141 have a potential as novel noninvasive biomarkers for endometriosis. In addition, we found that the plasma miR-200a, miR-200b and miR-141 levels vary with blood sampling time, so it is important to take the sample collection time into account when studying miRNAs as biomarkers.

The Impact of Endometriosis across the Lifespan of Women: Foreseeable Research and Therapeutic Prospects

In addition to estrogen dependence, endometriosis is characterized by chronic pelvic inflammation. The impact of the chronic pelvic inflammatory state on other organ systems and women's health is unclear. Endometriosis associated chronic inflammation and potential adverse health effects across the lifespan render it imperative for renewed research vigor into the identification of novel biomarkers of disease and therapeutic options. Herein we propose a number of opportunities for research and development of new therapeutics to address the unmet needs in the treatment of endometriosis per se and its ancillary risks for other diseases in women across the lifespan.

Addition of MCP-1 and MIP-3β to the IL-8 appraisal in peritoneal fluid enhances the probability of identifying women with endometriosis

Chemokines have been associated with endometriosis. Our study was aimed at evaluating the levels of six chemokines--CXCL8 (IL-8), CXCL12 (SDF-1), CCL2 (MCP-1), CCL5 (RANTES), CCL19 (MIP-3β), and CCL21 (6-Ckine)--in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of patients with and controls without endometriosis by multiplexed cytokine assay. In this retrospective case-control study conducted at the Charité University Hospital, patients (n = 36) and controls (n = 27) were enrolled. The patients were separated into groups according to stage of the disease: I-II (n = 21), III-IV (n = 1 5), and according to clinical findings: peritoneal endometriosis (PE; n = 7), deep-infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) affecting the retrocervical area (n = 13) or the bowel/rectovaginal site (n = 14). The subjects were also separated according to the cycle phase: follicular (n = 14) or luteal (n = 8) and the previous use (n = 25) or not (n = 38) of hormones. PF was collected from all subjects (n = 63) consecutively during laparoscopy. The concentration of chemokines in the PF was assessed using Luminex(®) x-MAP(®) technology. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated. A model of multiple logistic regressions estimated the odds of endometriosis for each combination of the chemokines detected. We observed significantly higher concentrations of IL-8 (p < 0.001), MCP-1 (p = 0.014), and MIP-3β (p = 0.022) in the PF of women with endometriosis than in the controls. A joint evaluation revealed that elevated levels of the three chemokines had a positive endometriosis prediction value of 89.1%. The combined assessment of MCP-1, MIP-3β, and IL-8 concentration in PF improved the likelihood of identifying patients with endometriosis. Future studies should investigate this panel in peripheral blood samples.

Severe teenage acne and risk of endometriosis

STUDY QUESTION

Is there a relationship between severe teenage acne and endometriosis?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Endometriosis is positively associated with severe teenage acne.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

No studies have specifically explored a possible association between severe acne in adolescence and risk of endometriosis.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This prospective cohort study used data collected from 88 623 female nurses from September 1989 to June 2009 as part of the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II) cohort.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for endometriosis among women with and without severe teenage acne. Multivariate models were adjusted for established risk factors of endometriosis.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

A total of 4 382 laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis cases were documented during 1 132 272 woman-years of follow-up. Compared with women without a history of severe teenage acne, women who had severe teenage acne had a 20% increased risk of endometriosis (HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.08-1.32). The association was not affected by adjusting for use of tetracycline or isotretinoin.

LIMITATIONS AND REASONS FOR CAUTION

The HR is likely to be underestimated since we only included endometriosis cases confirmed by laparoscopy. Although geographically diverse, the NHS II cohort is primarily Caucasian, which may limit generalization to more ethnically diverse populations.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY

The results of this study suggest that severe teenage acne is associated with an increased risk of endometriosis. As a visible and non-invasive clinical indicator, severe teenage acne may be useful for early detection of endometriosis. We bring this counter-intuitive association to the attention of clinicians for the benefit of the patient and an early diagnosis of endometriosis.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST

This study was funded by research grant CA176726 from the National Institute of Health. M.K. is supported by a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme (#PIOF-GA-2011-302078). The funding agencies had no role in the design of the study, in the analysis and interpretation of the data, in the writing of the report or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.