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Shao X, Li C, Liang J, Changzhong L. Metformin enhances epithelial cell growth inhibition via the protein kinase-insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 pathway. J OBSTET GYNAECOL 2024; 44:2321651. [PMID: 38466134 DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2024.2321651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormal stromal-epithelial cell communication is a pathogenic mechanism in endometriosis, and metformin can modulate it. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP1) plays a role in endometriosis, but the exact mechanism is unknown. IGFBP1 is reportedly a downstream target of metformin in some diseases. We aimed to investigate the role of IGFBP1 in endometriosis development, whether it is associated with abnormal communication, and whether metformin affects IGFBP1 expression. METHODS Patients who underwent surgical treatment for endometriosis or other diseases were enrolled. Ten patients with ovarian-type endometriosis and eight patients each who underwent surgical treatment for other lesions with or without endometriosis were selected, and their tissues taken for cell proliferation, western blotting, polymerase chain reaction, and knockdown experiments. RESULTS Ectopic and eutopic stromal cells (EcSCs and EuSCs) lost their ability to inhibit epithelial cell proliferation, and IGFBP1 expression was downregulated in both groups of stromal cells compared to that in normal stromal cells (NSCs; 1.09 vs. 0.25, p = .0002 1.09 vs. 0.57, p = .0029). In an EcSC IGFBP1 overexpression model, the ability of EcSCs to inhibit epithelial cell proliferation was enhanced (EdU positivity decreased from 38% to 25%, p = .0001). Furthermore, adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation was downregulated in EcSCs and EuSCs compared to that in NSCs (0.99 vs. 0.42, p = .0006/0.99 vs. 0.57, p = 0.0032). Treatment of EcSCs with metformin increased AMPK phosphorylation (0.47 vs. 1.04, p = .0107) while upregulating IGFBP1 expression (0.69 vs. 1.01, p = .0164), whereas pre-treatment with an AMPK phosphorylation inhibitor abrogated metformin-induced IGFBP1 upregulation. CONCLUSIONS IGFBP1 mediates aberrant stromal-epithelial communication in endometriosis. Metformin can upregulate IGFBP1 expression in EcSCs by activating AMPK, and upregulated IGFBP1 enhances the inhibition of epithelial cell proliferation. IGFBP1 is expected to be a therapeutic target for endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuping Shao
- Department of Gynaecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Changling Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient Clinic, the People's Hospital of Pingyi County, Linyi, Shandong, China
| | - Junhui Liang
- Department of Gynaecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Li Changzhong
- Department of Gynaecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecologic Diseases, Shenzhen, China
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Delenko J, Xue X, Chatterjee PK, Hyman N, Shih AJ, Adelson RP, Safaric Tepes P, Gregersen PK, Metz CN. Quercetin enhances decidualization through AKT-ERK-p53 signaling and supports a role for senescence in endometriosis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2024; 22:100. [PMID: 39118090 PMCID: PMC11308242 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-024-01265-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with endometriosis suffer with chronic pelvic pain and infertility, and from the lack of pharmacologic therapies that consistently halt disease progression. Differences in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis vs. unaffected controls are well-documented. Specifically, shed endometrial tissues (delivered to the pelvic cavity via retrograde menstruation) reveal that a subset of stromal cells exhibiting pro-inflammatory, pro-fibrotic, and pro-senescence-like phenotypes is enhanced in endometriosis patients compared to controls. Additionally, cultured biopsy-derived endometrial stromal cells from endometriosis patients exhibit impaired decidualization, a defined differentiation process required for human embryo implantation and pregnancy. Quercetin, a senolytic agent, shows therapeutic potential for pulmonary fibrosis, a disorder attributed to senescent pulmonary fibroblasts. In rodent models of endometriosis, quercetin shows promise, and quercetin improves decidualization in vitro. However, the exact mechanisms are not completely understood. Therefore, we investigated the effects of quercetin on menstrual effluent-derived endometrial stromal cells from endometriosis patients and unaffected controls to define the signaling pathways underlying quercetin's effects on endometrial stromal cells. METHODS Menstrual effluent-derived endometrial stromal cells were collected and cultured from unaffected controls and endometriosis patients and then, low passage cells were treated with quercetin (25 µM) under basal or standard decidualization conditions. Decidualization responses were analyzed by measuring the production of IGFBP1 and PRL. Also, the effects of quercetin on intracellular cAMP levels and cellular oxidative stress responses were measured. Phosphokinase arrays, western blotting, and flow cytometry methods were performed to define the effects of quercetin on various signaling pathways and the potential mechanistic roles of quercetin. RESULTS Quercetin significantly promotes decidualization of control- and endometriosis-endometrial stromal cells. Quercetin substantially reduces the phosphorylation of multiple signaling molecules in the AKT and ERK1/2 pathways, while enhancing the phosphorylation of p53 and total p53 levels. Furthermore, p53 inhibition blocks decidualization while p53 activation promotes decidualization. Finally, we provide evidence that quercetin increases apoptosis of endometrial stromal cells with a senescent-like phenotype. CONCLUSIONS These data provide insight into the mechanisms of action of quercetin on endometrial stromal cells and warrant future clinical trials to test quercetin and other senolytics for treating endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Delenko
- The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA
| | - Xiangying Xue
- The Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
| | - Prodyot K Chatterjee
- The Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
| | - Nathaniel Hyman
- The Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
| | - Andrew J Shih
- The Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
| | - Robert P Adelson
- The Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
| | - Polona Safaric Tepes
- The Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
| | - Peter K Gregersen
- The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA.
- The Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA.
| | - Christine N Metz
- The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA.
- The Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA.
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3
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Hacimoto SYS, Cressoni ACL, da Silva LECM, Padovan CC, Ferriani RA, Rosa-e-Silva JC, Meola J. Selection of reference miRNAs for RT-qPCR assays in endometriosis menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306657. [PMID: 39078824 PMCID: PMC11288454 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Choosing appropriate reference genes or internal controls to normalize RT-qPCR data is mandatory for the interexperimental reproducibility of gene expression data obtained by RT-qPCR in most studies, including those on endometriosis. Particularly for miRNAs, the choice for reference genes is challenging because of their physicochemical and biological characteristics. Moreover, the retrograde menstruation theory, mesenchymal stem cells in menstrual blood (MenSCs), and changes in post-transcriptional regulatory processes through miRNAs have gained prominence in the scientific community as important players in endometriosis. Therefore, we originally explored the stability of 10 miRNAs expressions as internal control candidates in conditions involving the two-dimensional culture of MenSCs from healthy women and patients with endometriosis. Here, we applied multiple algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, Bestkeeper, and delta Ct) to screen reference genes and assessed the comprehensive stability classification of miRNAs using RefFinder. Pairwise variation calculated using geNorm identified three miRNAs as a sufficient number of reference genes for accurate normalization. MiR-191-5p, miR-24-3p, and miR-103a-3p were the best combination for suitable gene expression normalization. This study will benefit similar research, but is also attractive for regenerative medicine and clinics that use MenSCs, miRNA expression, and RT-qPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Yukari Santos Hacimoto
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Clara Lagazzi Cressoni
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Cristiana Carolina Padovan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rui Alberto Ferriani
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute of Hormones and Women’s Health (Hormona), CNPq, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Júlio César Rosa-e-Silva
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Meola
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute of Hormones and Women’s Health (Hormona), CNPq, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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Riski Amanda C, Asmarinah, Hestiantoro A, Tulandi T, Febriyeni. Gene expression of aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2 in menstrual blood as noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for endometriosis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2024; 301:95-101. [PMID: 39116481 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.07.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Endometriosis diagnostic delays are still encountered due to the lack of a reliable, noninvasive diagnostic test. Besides, menstrual blood is a relatively untapped field for diagnostics, yet it provides a readily accessible source for investigating common gynecological conditions. In the present study, we aim to evaluate the expression levels of menstrual blood aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2 from women with and without endometriosis and their diagnostic performance. METHODS A total of 40 subjects participated in this study, including 20 patients from each endometriosis and non-endometriosis group. The endometriosis group comprised patients with proven endometriosis confirmed by pathological diagnosis and pelvic ultrasound examination, then requiring endometrial biopsy determined by the clinicians. The non-endometriosis group consisted of women who had primary and secondary infertility and underwent endometrial examination without any visible endometriosis lesion. The menstrual blood and eutopic endometrial tissue of enrolled subjects were collected, and the relative expression of the genes was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). ROC curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2. RESULTS We found significantly higher expressions of aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2 in the menstrual blood of the endometriosis group compared to non-endometriosis (P < 0.05). In contrast, examination of eutopic endometrial tissue of both groups only found significant in HSD17B2 (P < 0.05), while aromatase and SF-1 showed no statistically significant variance. The Area Under Curve (AUC) of aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2 in the menstrual blood was 0.977, 0.862, and 0.807, respectively. The optimal cutoff value was determined to be >1.63 (sensitivity = 95 % and specificity = 90 %) for aromatase, >1.71 (sensitivity = 90 % and specificity = 80 %) for SF-1, and >1.83 (sensitivity = 80 % and specificity = 75 %) for HSD17B2. CONCLUSION Our study showed that aromatase, SF-1, and HSD17B2 in the menstrual blood solidly discriminate between endometriosis and non-endometriosis patients with high diagnostic accuracy. However, further confirmation in larger cohorts is required to validate the reliability of these biomarkers to endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Riski Amanda
- Master's Programme in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine of Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia; Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine of Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Asmarinah
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine of Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia.
| | - Andon Hestiantoro
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Togas Tulandi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, 845 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montreal, Canada
| | - Febriyeni
- Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Universitas Fort De Kock, Bukittinggi 26117, Indonesia
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Tindal K, Cousins FL, Ellery SJ, Palmer KR, Gordon A, Filby CE, Gargett CE, Vollenhoven B, Davies-Tuck ML. Investigating Menstruation and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Oxymoron or New Frontier? A Narrative Review. J Clin Med 2024; 13:4430. [PMID: 39124698 PMCID: PMC11312851 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13154430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Not discounting the important foetal or placental contribution, the endometrium is a key determinant of pregnancy outcomes. Given the inherently linked processes of menstruation, pregnancy and parturition with the endometrium, further understanding of menstruation will help to elucidate the maternal contribution to pregnancy. Endometrial health can be assessed via menstrual history and menstrual fluid, a cyclically shed, easily and non-invasively accessible biological sample that represents the distinct, heterogeneous composition of the endometrial environment. Menstrual fluid has been applied to the study of endometriosis, unexplained infertility and early pregnancy loss; however, it is yet to be examined regarding adverse pregnancy outcomes. These adverse outcomes, including preeclampsia, foetal growth restriction (FGR), spontaneous preterm birth and perinatal death (stillbirth and neonatal death), lay on a spectrum of severity and are often attributed to placental dysfunction. The source of this placental dysfunction is largely unknown and may be due to underlying endometrial abnormalities or endometrial interactions during placentation. We present existing evidence for the endometrial contribution to adverse pregnancy outcomes and propose that a more comprehensive understanding of menstruation can provide insight into the endometrial environment, offering great potential value as a diagnostic tool to assess pregnancy risk. As yet, this concept has hardly been explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin Tindal
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia (C.E.G.); (M.L.D.-T.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia; (K.R.P.); (B.V.)
- NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) in Stillbirth, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia;
| | - Fiona L. Cousins
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia (C.E.G.); (M.L.D.-T.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia; (K.R.P.); (B.V.)
| | - Stacey J. Ellery
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia (C.E.G.); (M.L.D.-T.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia; (K.R.P.); (B.V.)
| | - Kirsten R. Palmer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia; (K.R.P.); (B.V.)
- Women’s and Newborn Program, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Adrienne Gordon
- NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) in Stillbirth, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia;
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Caitlin E. Filby
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia; (K.R.P.); (B.V.)
| | - Caroline E. Gargett
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia (C.E.G.); (M.L.D.-T.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia; (K.R.P.); (B.V.)
| | - Beverley Vollenhoven
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia; (K.R.P.); (B.V.)
- Women’s and Newborn Program, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Miranda L. Davies-Tuck
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia (C.E.G.); (M.L.D.-T.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia; (K.R.P.); (B.V.)
- NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) in Stillbirth, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia;
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Adilbayeva A, Kunz J. Pathogenesis of Endometriosis and Endometriosis-Associated Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7624. [PMID: 39062866 PMCID: PMC11277188 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147624] [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: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a hormone-dependent, chronic inflammatory condition that affects 5-10% of reproductive-aged women. It is a complex disorder characterized by the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, which can cause chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Despite its prevalence, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this disease remain poorly understood. Current treatment options are limited and focus mainly on suppressing lesion activity rather than eliminating it entirely. Although endometriosis is generally considered a benign condition, substantial evidence suggests that it increases the risk of developing specific subtypes of ovarian cancer. The discovery of cancer driver mutations in endometriotic lesions indicates that endometriosis may share molecular pathways with cancer. Moreover, the application of single-cell and spatial genomics, along with the development of organoid models, has started to illuminate the molecular mechanisms underlying disease etiology. This review aims to summarize the key genetic mutations and alterations that drive the development and progression of endometriosis to malignancy. We also review the significant recent advances in the understanding of the molecular basis of the disorder, as well as novel approaches and in vitro models that offer new avenues for improving our understanding of disease pathology and for developing new targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeannette Kunz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, 5/1 Kerey and Zhanibek Khans St, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan;
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Chen T, Xu Y, Xu X, Wang J, Qiu Z, Yu Y, Jiang X, Shao W, Bai D, Wang M, Mei S, Cheng T, Wu L, Gao S, Che X. Comprehensive transcriptional atlas of human adenomyosis deciphered by the integration of single-cell RNA-sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. Protein Cell 2024; 15:530-546. [PMID: 38486356 PMCID: PMC11214835 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwae012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Adenomyosis is a poorly understood gynecological disorder lacking effective treatments. Controversy persists regarding "invagination" and "metaplasia" theories. The endometrial-myometrial junction (EMJ) connects the endometrium and myometrium and is important for diagnosing and classifying adenomyosis, but its in-depth study is just beginning. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial profiling, we mapped transcriptional alterations across eutopic endometrium, lesions, and EMJ. Within lesions, we identified unique epithelial (LGR5+) and invasive stromal (PKIB+) subpopulations, along with WFDC1+ progenitor cells, supporting a complex interplay between "invagination" and "metaplasia" theories of pathogenesis. Further, we observed endothelial cell heterogeneity and abnormal angiogenic signaling involving vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin pathways. Cell-cell communication differed markedly between ectopic and eutopic endometrium, with aberrant signaling in lesions involving pleiotrophin, TWEAK, and WNT cascades. This study reveals unique stem cell-like and invasive cell subpopulations within adenomyosis lesions identified, dysfunctional signaling, and EMJ abnormalities critical to developing precise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Women and Children Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314000, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yiliang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Bioengineering and Disease Prevention of Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, China
| | - Xiaocui Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jianzhang Wang
- Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310013, China
| | - Zhiruo Qiu
- Postgraduate training base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yayuan Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Women and Children Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314000, China
| | - Xiaohong Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Women and Children Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314000, China
| | - Wanqi Shao
- Jiaxing University Master Degree Cultivation Base, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Dandan Bai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Mingzhu Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shuyan Mei
- Postgraduate training base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Tao Cheng
- Postgraduate training base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Li Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shaorong Gao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xuan Che
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Women and Children Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314000, China
- Postgraduate training base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
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8
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Quan Q, Gu H, Wang Y, Yu M. Immune micro-environment analysis and drug screening for ovarian endometriosis. Genes Genomics 2024; 46:803-815. [PMID: 38776050 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-024-01497-8] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients of ovary endometriosis have an abnormal immune micro-environment, leading to endometrial tissue that from retrograde menstruation evade immune surveillance and subsequently develop into ectopic lesions. OBJECTIVE This study aims to elucidate the crucial immune cells and molecular pathways that are associated with an aberrant immune micro-environment of endometriosis. METHOD In this study, we identified differentially expressed genes between ovarian ectopic endometrial tissue (OVE) and eutopic endometrial tissue from patients with endometriosis (PE) and non-endometriosis patients (CON) by analyzing the mRNA sequencing data. Additionally, we used WGCNA(Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis) to screen for key genes related to immune cell infiltration and compared the sub-types of infiltrating immune cells using CIBERSORT(cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcript). Subsequently, we conducted a single-cell analysis on the identified key genes. Furthermore, we analyzed potential drugs suitable for ovarian endometriosis treatment using pRRophertic. RESULTS Seven key genes associated with immune cell infiltration were screened out. The expression of these genes in OVE was significantly lower than that in PE and CON. These key genes were mainly enriched in the NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity pathway, especially for CD16 + CD56dim NK. Moreover, NK cells infiltration in ovarian endometriosis was significantly reduced compared with PE and CON, while M2 macrophage shown the opposite. Results of the single-cell analysis showed that the expression of the seven key genes in NK cells and monocyte-macrophages in OVE was significantly lower than that in PE or CON. Additionally, we identified potential drugs suitable for ovarian endometriosis treatment. CONCLUSION The decreased infiltration of NK cells and increased infiltration of M2 macrophages contribute to the evasion of immune surveillance against endometrial tissue, promoting the progression of OVE. Therefore, potential strategies for the treatment of OVE include increasing NK cell activation and decreasing M2 macrophage polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingli Quan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), PO Box 510600, Guangzhou, China
| | - Heng Gu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), PO Box 510600, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongxia Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), PO Box 510600, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Meixing Yu
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, PO Box 510623, Guangzhou, China.
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9
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Artimovič P, Badovská Z, Toporcerová S, Špaková I, Smolko L, Sabolová G, Kriváková E, Rabajdová M. Oxidative Stress and the Nrf2/PPARγ Axis in the Endometrium: Insights into Female Fertility. Cells 2024; 13:1081. [PMID: 38994935 PMCID: PMC11240766 DOI: 10.3390/cells13131081] [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: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Successful pregnancy depends on precise molecular regulation of uterine physiology, especially during the menstrual cycle. Deregulated oxidative stress (OS), often influenced by inflammatory changes but also by environmental factors, represents a constant threat to this delicate balance. Oxidative stress induces a reciprocally regulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (Nrf2/PPARγ) pathway. However, increased PPARγ activity appears to be a double-edged sword in endometrial physiology. Activated PPARγ attenuates inflammation and attenuates OS to restore redox homeostasis. However, it also interferes with physiological processes during the menstrual cycle, such as hormonal signaling and angiogenesis. This review provides an elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that support the interplay between PPARγ and OS. Additionally, it offers fresh perspectives on the Nrf2/PPARγ pathway concerning endometrial receptivity and its potential implications for infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Artimovič
- Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia; (P.A.); (I.Š.); (L.S.); (G.S.); (E.K.); (M.R.)
| | - Zuzana Badovská
- Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia; (P.A.); (I.Š.); (L.S.); (G.S.); (E.K.); (M.R.)
| | - Silvia Toporcerová
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia;
| | - Ivana Špaková
- Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia; (P.A.); (I.Š.); (L.S.); (G.S.); (E.K.); (M.R.)
| | - Lukáš Smolko
- Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia; (P.A.); (I.Š.); (L.S.); (G.S.); (E.K.); (M.R.)
| | - Gabriela Sabolová
- Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia; (P.A.); (I.Š.); (L.S.); (G.S.); (E.K.); (M.R.)
| | - Eva Kriváková
- Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia; (P.A.); (I.Š.); (L.S.); (G.S.); (E.K.); (M.R.)
| | - Miroslava Rabajdová
- Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia; (P.A.); (I.Š.); (L.S.); (G.S.); (E.K.); (M.R.)
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10
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Bouzid K, Bourdon M, Bartkowski R, Verbanck M, Chapron C, Marcellin L, Batteux F, Santulli P, Doridot L. Menstrual Blood Donation for Endometriosis Research: A Cross-Sectional Survey on Women's Willingness and Potential Barriers. Reprod Sci 2024; 31:1617-1625. [PMID: 38418666 PMCID: PMC11111534 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-024-01481-3] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
An anonymous online survey in French was used to assess if endometriosis patients would be as ready as unaffected women to donate their menstrual blood for biological research on endometriosis and evaluate potential barriers to such donation. It was distributed in September 2022 by social media and two mailing lists, including a French patient organization. The questionnaire assessed participant age and brief medical history (hormonal contraception, endometriosis diagnosis, type of endometriosis), menstrual experience (menstrual blood abundance, dysmenorrhea), and whether participants would donate menstrual blood. Women who self-declared with an established endometriosis diagnosis versus no endometriosis were compared. Seven hundred seventy-eight women answered the survey. Among women with menstruation (n = 568), 78% are willing to donate menstrual blood for research. Importantly, this proportion was higher in women who declared having an established endometriosis diagnosis (83%, n = 299) compared to self-declared unaffected women (68%, n = 134, p < 0.001). The previous use of a menstrual cup and dysmenorrhea were significantly associated with the willingness to donate menstrual blood, while the use of hormonal contraception was significantly associated with an unwillingness to donate. Only the previous use of the menstrual cup had a predictive value for menstrual blood donation. No significant relationship was observed between menstrual blood donation and age, heavy menstrual bleeding and in endometriosis patients, endometriosis subtypes. In conclusion, women affected or not by endometriosis are largely willing to donate their menstrual blood for research on endometriosis, dysmenorrhea is not a barrier for donation, and women who use a menstrual cup are the more likely to donate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kheira Bouzid
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, Inserm, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Mathilde Bourdon
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, Inserm, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France
- Département de Gynécologie, Obstétrique Et Médecine de La Reproduction, AP-HP, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Cochin, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Roxane Bartkowski
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, Inserm, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Marie Verbanck
- UR 7537 - BioSTM Biostatistique, Traitement et Modélisation des données Biologiques, Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Université Paris Cité, F-75270, Paris, France
| | - Charles Chapron
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, Inserm, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France
- Département de Gynécologie, Obstétrique Et Médecine de La Reproduction, AP-HP, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Cochin, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Louis Marcellin
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, Inserm, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France
- Département de Gynécologie, Obstétrique Et Médecine de La Reproduction, AP-HP, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Cochin, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Frederic Batteux
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, Inserm, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France
- Service d'Immunologie Biologique, AP-HP, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Cochin, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Pietro Santulli
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, Inserm, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France
- Département de Gynécologie, Obstétrique Et Médecine de La Reproduction, AP-HP, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Cochin, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Ludivine Doridot
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, Inserm, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France.
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11
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Fang X, Deng Q, Yang H, Yan Z, Peng Z, Zhao Y, Liao T, Tu Z, Liu J, Liu L, Zou L, He H. Causal association of immune cells and endometriosis: a Mendelian randomization study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1397670. [PMID: 38868746 PMCID: PMC11167632 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1397670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the causal effect of immune cells on endometriosis (EMS), we performed a Mendelian randomization analysis. Methods Mendelian randomization (MR) uses genetic variants as instrumental variables to investigate the causal effects of exposures on outcomes in observational data. In this study, we conducted a thorough two-sample MR analysis to investigate the causal relationship between 731 immune cells and endometriosis. We used complementary Mendelian randomization (MR) methods, including weighted median estimator (WME) and inverse variance weighted (IVW), and performed sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of our results. Results Four immune phenotypes have been found to be significantly associated with the risk of developing EMS: B cell %lymphocyte (WME: OR: 1.074, p = 0.027 and IVW: OR: 1.058, p = 0.008), CD14 on Mo MDSC (WME: OR: 1.056, p =0.021 and IVW: OR: 1.047, p = 0.021), CD14+ CD16- monocyte %monocyte (WME: OR: 0.947, p = 0.024 and IVW: OR: 0.958, p = 0.011), CD25 on unsw mem (WME: OR: 1.055, p = 0.030 and IVW: OR: 1.048, p = 0.003). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the main findings, demonstrating consistency across analyses. Conclusions Our MR analysis provides compelling evidence for a direct causal link between immune cells and EMS, thereby advancing our understanding of the disease. It also provides new avenues and opportunities for the development of immunomodulatory therapeutic strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyi Fang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Qinghua Deng
- Department of Gynaecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Haili Yang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhaohua Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhen Peng
- Reproductive Medical Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuheng Zhao
- Graduate School of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Tantan Liao
- Reproductive Medical Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Ziying Tu
- Graduate School of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Graduate School of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Liu
- Graduate School of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Lin Zou
- Reproductive Medical Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Honghua He
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
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12
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Ochoa Bernal MA, Fazleabas AT. The Known, the Unknown and the Future of the Pathophysiology of Endometriosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5815. [PMID: 38892003 PMCID: PMC11172035 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115815] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is one of the most common causes of chronic pelvic pain and infertility, affecting 10% of women of reproductive age. A delay of up to 9 years is estimated between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis of endometriosis. Endometriosis is currently defined as the presence of endometrial epithelial and stromal cells at ectopic sites; however, advances in research on endometriosis have some authors believing that endometriosis should be re-defined as "a fibrotic condition in which endometrial stroma and epithelium can be identified". There are several theories on the etiology of the disease, but the origin of endometriosis remains unclear. This review addresses the role of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are naturally occurring post-transcriptional regulatory molecules, in endometriotic lesion development, the inflammatory environment within the peritoneal cavity, including the role that cytokines play during the development of the disease, and how animal models have helped in our understanding of the pathology of this enigmatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ariadna Ochoa Bernal
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA;
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Asgerally T. Fazleabas
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA;
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13
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Noar M, Mathias J, Kolatkar A. Gastrointestinal Myoelectrical Activity (GIMA) Biomarker for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Endometriosis. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2866. [PMID: 38792407 PMCID: PMC11122642 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13102866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Endometriosis represents substantial direct and indirect healthcare costs impacted by an absence of uniformly accurate, non-invasive diagnostic tools. We endeavored to demonstrate gastrointestinal myoelectrical activity (GIMA) biomarkers, unique to endometriosis, will allow non-invasive, uniformly accurate diagnosis or exclusion of endometriosis. Methods: Prospective open-label comparative study of 154 patients, age ≥ 18, with or without diagnosed endometriosis. Population included 62 non-endometriosis controls (Cohort 1), 43 subjects with surgically/histologically confirmed endometriosis (Cohort 2), and 49 subjects with abdominal pain and negative imaging (Cohort 3). Non-invasive electroviscerography (EVG) recorded GIMA biomarkers from three abdominal electrodes before and 30 min post water load protocol. Cohort 2 had postoperative EVG and Cohort 3 had preoperative EVG. Calculated specificity, sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), and predictive probability or C-statistic used univariate, multivariate, linear, and logistical regression analyses of the area under the curve (AUC) at all frequency and time points, including age and pain covariants. Results: The non-endometriosis cohort differed significantly from the endometriosis cohorts (p < 0.001) for median (IQR) and AUC percent frequency distribution of power at baseline, 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min post water load at all frequency ranges: 15-20 cpm, 30-40 cpm, and 40-50 cpm. The endometriosis cohorts were statistically similar (p > 0.05). GIMA biomarker threshold scoring demonstrated 95%/91% sensitivity and PPV, 96%/95% specificity and NPV, and a C-statistic of >99%/98%, respectively, for age subsets. GIMA biomarkers in Cohort 3 predicted 47/49 subjects positive and 2/49 negative for endometriosis, confirmed surgically. Hormonal therapy, surgical stage, nor pain score affected diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions: EVG with GIMA biomarker detection distinguished participants with and without endometriosis based upon endometriosis-specific GIMA biomarkers threshold scoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Noar
- Endometriosis and Neuroenterology Research Institute, 53 Loveton Circle, Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152, USA
| | - John Mathias
- Woman’s Hospital of Texas, 7600 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77054, USA;
- Gastrointestinal Consultants of Houston, 7501 Fannin St., Suite 705, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Ajit Kolatkar
- Specialty Business Center, Integrative Ayurveda Gastroenterology and Nutrition Initiative, 202, Balewadi, Pune 411045, Maharashtra, India;
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14
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Li Q, Shi J, Yi D, Li X, Gu Z, Yan H, Leng J. The pathogenesis of endometriosis and adenomyosis: insights from single-cell RNA sequencing†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:854-865. [PMID: 38386960 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae032] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis and adenomyosis are two similar gynecological diseases that are characterized by ectopic implantation and the growth of the endometrial tissue. Previous studies have reported that they share a common pathophysiology in some respects, such as a similar cellular composition and resistance to the progestogen of lesions, but their underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Emerging single-cell ribonucleic acid sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies allow for the dissection of single-cell transcriptome mapping to reveal the etiology of diseases at the level of the individual cell. In this review, we summarized the published findings in research on scRNA-seq regarding the cellular components and molecular profiles of diverse lesions. They show that epithelial cell clusters may be the vital progenitors of endometriosis and adenomyosis. Subclusters of stromal cells, such as endometrial mesenchymal stem cells and fibroblasts, are also involved in the occurrence of endometriosis and adenomyosis, respectively. Moreover, CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages exhibit a deficiency in clearing the ectopic endometrial cells in the immune microenvironment of endometriosis. It seems that the immune responses are activated in adenomyosis. Understanding the immune characteristics of adenomyosis still needs further exploration. Finally, we discuss the application of findings from scRNA-seq for clinical diagnosis and treatment. This review provides fresh insights into the pathogenesis of endometriosis and adenomyosis as well as the therapeutic targets at the cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiutong Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jinghua Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Dai Yi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyue Gu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hailan Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jinhua Leng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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15
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Samare-Najaf M, Razavinasab SA, Samareh A, Jamali N. Omics-based novel strategies in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2024; 61:205-225. [PMID: 37878077 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2023.2270736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Endometriosis, an enigmatic and chronic disorder, is considered a debilitating condition despite being benign. Globally, this gynecologic disorder affects up to 10% of females of reproductive age, impacting almost 190 million individuals. A variety of genetic and environmental factors are involved in endometriosis development, hence the pathophysiology and etiology of endometriosis remain unclear. The uncertainty of the etiology of the disease and its complexity along with nonspecific symptoms have led to misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis of affected people. Biopsy and laparoscopy are referred to as the gold standard for endometriosis diagnosis. However, the invasiveness of the procedure, the unnecessary operation in disease-free women, and the dependence of the reliability of diagnosis on experience in this area are considered the most significant limitations. Therefore, continuous studies have attempted to offer a noninvasive and reliable approach. The recent advances in modern technologies have led to the generation of large-scale biological data sets, known as -omics data, resulting in the proceeding of the -omics century in biomedical sciences. Thereby, the present study critically reviews novel and noninvasive biomarkers that are based on -omics approaches from 2020 onward. The findings reveal that biomarkers identified based on genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are potentially able to diagnose endometriosis, predict prognosis, and stage patients, and potentially, in the near future, a multi-panel of these biomarkers will generate clinical benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Samare-Najaf
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Kerman Regional Blood Transfusion Center, Kerman, Iran
- Biochemistry Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Ali Samareh
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Navid Jamali
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran
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16
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Oskotsky TT, Bhoja A, Bunis D, Le BL, Tang AS, Kosti I, Li C, Houshdaran S, Sen S, Vallvé-Juanico J, Wang W, Arthurs E, Govil A, Mahoney L, Lang L, Gaudilliere B, Stevenson DK, Irwin JC, Giudice LC, McAllister SL, Sirota M. Identifying therapeutic candidates for endometriosis through a transcriptomics-based drug repositioning approach. iScience 2024; 27:109388. [PMID: 38510116 PMCID: PMC10952035 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Existing medical treatments for endometriosis-related pain are often ineffective, underscoring the need for new therapeutic strategies. In this study, we applied a computational drug repurposing pipeline to stratified and unstratified disease signatures based on endometrial gene expression data to identify potential therapeutics from existing drugs, based on expression reversal. Of 3,131 unique genes differentially expressed by at least one of six endometriosis signatures, only 308 (9.8%) were in common; however, 221 out of 299 drugs identified, (73.9%) were shared. We selected fenoprofen, an uncommonly prescribed NSAID that was the top therapeutic candidate for further investigation. When testing fenoprofen in an established rat model of endometriosis, fenoprofen successfully alleviated endometriosis-associated vaginal hyperalgesia, a surrogate marker for endometriosis-related pain. These findings validate fenoprofen as a therapeutic that could be utilized more frequently for endometriosis and suggest the utility of the aforementioned computational drug repurposing approach for endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomiko T. Oskotsky
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Arohee Bhoja
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniel Bunis
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brian L. Le
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alice S. Tang
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Idit Kosti
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Christine Li
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sahar Houshdaran
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sushmita Sen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Júlia Vallvé-Juanico
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wanxin Wang
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Erin Arthurs
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Arpita Govil
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lauren Mahoney
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lindsey Lang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brice Gaudilliere
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Juan C. Irwin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Linda C. Giudice
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Marina Sirota
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
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17
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Koutalia N, Gkrozou F, Vatopoulou A, Lentzaris D, Skentou C, Paschopoulos M. Role of Molecular Biomarkers in Endometriosis-Related Infertility: A Narrative Review of the Literature. Cureus 2024; 16:e59288. [PMID: 38813329 PMCID: PMC11135608 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a chronic benign inflammatory disease that affects women of reproductive age. The clinical presentations of endometriosis include dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. There is a well-established association between endometriosis and infertility. Therefore, there is a need for an early diagnosis of endometriosis-related infertility. In this study, we aim to identify the role of biomarkers as predictive factors of the presence of the disease and its severity and their correlation with the pregnancy outcome. We performed an electronic database search of all published studies in PubMed and EMBASE from January 2018 to May 2023. Numerous innovative biomarkers identified in cases of endometriosis and infertility have been studied over the past years, including micro-RNAs, BCL6 endometrial expression, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4, human leukocyte antigen G, programmed cell death protein 1, programmed cell death ligand 1 immune checkpoint molecules, plasma fibronectin-fibrin complexes, homeobox A10 gene, systemic inflammatory response markers, uterine natural killer cells, and the eutopic endometrium proteome. Considerable research has been done to identify diagnostic biomarkers for the early detection and prevention of endometriosis-associated infertility. However, none of these biomarkers displayed enough diagnostic accuracy to be used in daily clinical practice. Future research is valuable to establish them as reliable diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoleta Koutalia
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, GRC
| | - Fani Gkrozou
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, GRC
| | | | | | - Chara Skentou
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, GRC
| | - Minas Paschopoulos
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, GRC
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18
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Yan J, Zhou L, Liu M, Zhu H, Zhang X, Cai E, Xu X, Chen T, Cheng H, Liu J, Wang S, Dai L, Chang X, Tang F. Single-cell analysis reveals insights into epithelial abnormalities in ovarian endometriosis. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113716. [PMID: 38412094 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian endometriosis is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue within the ovary, causing infertility and chronic pain. However, its pathophysiology remains unclear. Utilizing high-precision single-cell RNA sequencing, we profile the normal, eutopic, and ectopic endometrium from 34 individuals across proliferative and secretory phases. We observe an increased proportion of ciliated cells in both eutopic and ectopic endometrium, characterized by a diminished expression of estrogen sulfotransferase, which likely confers apoptosis resistance. After translocating to ectopic lesions, endometrial epithelium upregulates nicotinamide N-methyltransferase expression that inhibits apoptosis by promoting deacetylation and subsequent nuclear exclusion of transcription factor forkhead box protein O1, thereby leading to the downregulation of the apoptotic gene BIM. Moreover, epithelial cells in ectopic lesions elevate HLA class II complex expression, which stimulates CD4+ T cells and consequently contributes to chronic inflammation. Altogether, our study provides a comprehensive atlas of ovarian endometriosis and highlights potential therapeutic targets for modulating apoptosis and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China; Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Ling Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Mengya Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Honglan Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China
| | - E Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xueqiang Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China; Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Tinghan Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Hongyan Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Jun'e Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Shang Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Lin Dai
- Department of Pathology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xiaohong Chang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China.
| | - Fuchou Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China; Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing 100000, China.
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19
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Liao Z, Tang S, Jiang P, Geng T, Cope DI, Dunn TN, Guner J, Radilla LA, Guan X, Monsivais D. Impaired bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways disrupt decidualization in endometriosis. Commun Biol 2024; 7:227. [PMID: 38402336 PMCID: PMC10894266 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05898-z] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is linked to increased infertility and pregnancy complications due to defective endometrial decidualization. We hypothesized that identification of altered signaling pathways during decidualization could identify the underlying cause of infertility and pregnancy complications. Our study reveals that transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) pathways are impaired in the endometrium of individuals with endometriosis, leading to defective decidualization. Through detailed transcriptomic analyses, we discovered abnormalities in TGFβ signaling pathways and key regulators, such as SMAD4, in the endometrium of affected individuals. We also observed compromised activity of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP), a subset of the TGFβ family, that control endometrial receptivity. Using 3-dimensional models of endometrial stromal and epithelial assembloids, we showed that exogenous BMP2 improved decidual marker expression in individuals with endometriosis. Our findings reveal dysfunction of BMP/SMAD signaling in the endometrium of individuals with endometriosis, explaining decidualization defects and subsequent pregnancy complications in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zian Liao
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Graduate Program of Genetics and Genomics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Suni Tang
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Peixin Jiang
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ting Geng
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Dominique I Cope
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Timothy N Dunn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Joie Guner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Linda Alpuing Radilla
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Xiaoming Guan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Diana Monsivais
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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20
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Lin X, Dai Y, Gu W, Zhang Y, Zhuo F, Zhao F, Jin X, Li C, Huang D, Tong X, Zhang S. The involvement of RNA N6-methyladenosine and histone methylation modification in decidualization and endometriosis-associated infertility. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1564. [PMID: 38344897 PMCID: PMC10859880 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Defective decidualization of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) in endometriosis (EM) patients leads to inadequate endometrial receptivity and EM-associated infertility. Hypoxia is an inevitable pathological process of EM and participates in deficient decidualization of the eutopic secretory endometrium. Enhancer of zeste homology 2 (EZH2) is a methyltransferase which catalyses H3K27Me3, leading to decreased expression levels of target genes. Although EZH2 expression is low under normal decidualization, it is abundantly increased in the eutopic secretory endometrium of EM and is induced by hypoxia. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-PCR results revealed that decidua marker IGFBP1 is a direct target of EZH2, partially explaining the increased levels of histone methylation modification in defected decidualization of EM. To mechanism controlling this, we examined the effects of hypoxia on EZH2 and decidualization. EZH2 mRNA showed decreased m6 A modification and increased expression levels under hypoxia and decidualization combined treatment. Increased EZH2 expression was due to the increased expression of m6 A demethylase ALKBH5 and decreased expression of the m6 A reader protein YTHDF2. YTHDF2 directly bind to the m6 A modification site of EZH2 to promote EZH2 mRNA degradation in ESCs. Moreover, selective Ezh2 depletion in mouse ESCs increased endometrial receptivity and improved mouse fertility by up-regulating decidua marker IGFBP1 expression. This is the first report showing that YTHDF2 can act as a m6 A reader to promote decidualization by decreasing the stability of EZH2 mRNA and further increasing the expression of IGFBP1 in ESCs. Taken together, our findings highlight the critical role of EZH2/H3K27Me3 in decidualization and reveal a novel epigenetic mechanism by which hypoxia can suppress EM decidualization by decreasing the m6 A modification of EZH2 mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Lin
- Assisted Reproduction UnitDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologySir Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Yongdong Dai
- Assisted Reproduction UnitDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologySir Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Weijia Gu
- Assisted Reproduction UnitDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologySir Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Yi Zhang
- Assisted Reproduction UnitDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologySir Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Feng Zhuo
- Assisted Reproduction UnitDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologySir Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Fanxuan Zhao
- Assisted Reproduction UnitDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologySir Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaoying Jin
- Assisted Reproduction UnitDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologySir Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Chao Li
- Assisted Reproduction UnitDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologySir Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Dong Huang
- Assisted Reproduction UnitDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologySir Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaomei Tong
- Assisted Reproduction UnitDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologySir Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Songying Zhang
- Assisted Reproduction UnitDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologySir Run Shaw HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
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21
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Bui BN, Ardisasmita AI, Kuijk E, Altmäe S, Steba G, Mackens S, Fuchs S, Broekmans F, Nieuwenhuis E. An unbiased approach of molecular characterization of the endometrium: toward defining endometrial-based infertility. Hum Reprod 2024; 39:275-281. [PMID: 38099857 PMCID: PMC10833067 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Infertility is a complex condition affecting millions of couples worldwide. The current definition of infertility, based on clinical criteria, fails to account for the molecular and cellular changes that may occur during the development of infertility. Recent advancements in sequencing technology and single-cell analysis offer new opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of these changes. The endometrium has a potential role in infertility and has been extensively studied to identify gene expression profiles associated with (impaired) endometrial receptivity. However, limited overlap among studies hampers the identification of relevant downstream pathways that could play a role in the development of endometrial-related infertility. To address these challenges, we propose sequencing the endometrial transcriptome of healthy and infertile women at the single-cell level to consistently identify molecular signatures. Establishing consensus on physiological patterns in endometrial samples can aid in identifying deviations in infertile patients. A similar strategy has been used with great success in cancer research. However, large collaborative initiatives, international uniform protocols of sample collection and processing are crucial to ensure reliability and reproducibility. Overall, the proposed approach holds promise for an objective and accurate classification of endometrial-based infertility and has the potential to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bich Ngoc Bui
- Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ewart Kuijk
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Signe Altmäe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Gaby Steba
- Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Shari Mackens
- Brussels IVF, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sabine Fuchs
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank Broekmans
- Department of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Infertility Care, Dijklander Ziekenhuis, Purmerend, The Netherlands
| | - Edward Nieuwenhuis
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Science, University College Roosevelt, Middelburg, The Netherlands
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22
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Lee JW, Lee HY. Exploring distinct properties of endometrial stem cells through advanced single-cell analysis platforms. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:379. [PMID: 38124100 PMCID: PMC10734114 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03616-w] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The endometrium is a dynamic tissue that undergoes cyclic changes in response to ovarian hormones during the menstrual cycle. These changes are crucial for pregnancy establishment and maintenance. Endometrial stem cells play a pivotal role in endometrial regeneration and repair by differentiating into various cell types within the endometrium. However, their involvement in endometrial disorders such as endometriosis, infertility, and endometrial cancer is still not fully understood yet. Traditional bulk sequencing methods have limitations in capturing heterogeneity and complexity of endometrial stem cell populations. To overcome these limitations, recent single-cell analysis techniques, including single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq), single-cell ATAC sequencing (scATAC-Seq), and spatial transcriptomics, have emerged as valuable tools for studying endometrial stem cells. In this review, although there are still many technical limitations that require improvement, we will summarize the current state-of-the-art single-cell analysis techniques for endometrial stem cells and explore their relevance to related diseases. We will discuss studies utilizing various single-cell analysis platforms to identify and characterize distinct endometrial stem cell populations and investigate their dynamic changes in gene expression and epigenetic patterns during menstrual cycle and differentiation processes. These techniques enable the identification of rare cell populations, capture heterogeneity of cell populations within the endometrium, and provide potential targets for more effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Woo Lee
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, Incheon, 21999, Republic of Korea
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, 406-840, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa-Yong Lee
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
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23
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Monsivais D, Liao Z, Tang S, Jiang P, Geng T, Cope D, Dunn T, Guner J, Radilla LA, Guan X. Impaired bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways disrupt decidualization in endometriosis. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3471243. [PMID: 37986901 PMCID: PMC10659538 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3471243/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Endometriosis is linked to increased infertility and pregnancy complications due to defective endometrial decidualization. We hypothesized that identification of altered signaling pathways during decidualization could identify the underlying cause of infertility and pregnancy complications. Our study reveals that transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) pathways are impaired in the endometrium of individuals with endometriosis, leading to defective decidualization. Through detailed transcriptomic analyses, we discovered abnormalities in TGFβ signaling pathways and key regulators, such as SMAD4, in the endometrium of affected individuals. We also observed compromised activity of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP), a subset of the TGFβ family, that control endometrial receptivity. Using 3-dimensional models of endometrial stromal and epithelial assembloids, we showed that exogenous BMP2 improved decidual marker expression in individuals with endometriosis. Our findings unveil a previously unidentified dysfunction in BMP/SMAD signaling in the endometrium of individuals with endometriosis, explaining decidualization defects and subsequent pregnancy complications in these individuals.
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24
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Ji S, Liu Y, Yan L, Zhang Y, Li Y, Zhu Q, Xia W, Ge S, Zhang J. DIA-based analysis of the menstrual blood proteome identifies association between CXCL5 and IL1RN and endometriosis. J Proteomics 2023; 289:104995. [PMID: 37657716 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2023.104995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Endometriosis is a gynecological disease related to menstruation that affects nearly 10% of reproductive-age women. However, so far, there are no reliable diagnostic biomarkers for endometriosis, causing a delay in diagnosis of 6.7 ± 6.2 years. Menstrual blood is a non-invasive source of endometrial tissue that can be analyzed for biomarkers of endometriosis. In this study, menstrual blood samples were collected from women with (n = 8) and without (n = 8) endometriosis. Data Independent Acquisition (DIA)-based mass spectrometry and bioinformatic analysis were used to quantify and identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) using the thresholds of fold change >1.5 and P value <0.05. A total of 95 DEPs were identified in menstrual blood from women with endometriosis compared to women without endometriosis, of which 64 were up-regulated and 31 were down-regulated. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were used to functionally annotate DEPs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was then conducted to identify hub genes and the MCODE plugin placed CXCL1, CXCL3, CXCL5, CCL18, and IL1RN in the most significant cluster network. The expression of the above candidate proteins was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), among which CXCL5 and IL1RN protein expression was increased in patients with endometriosis, indicating that CXCL5 and IL1RN in menstrual blood may be useful biomarkers to diagnose endometriosis from non-invasive samples. SIGNIFICANCE: Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease that causes discomfort in many women. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of endometriosis is frequently delayed due to a lack of reliable non-invasive biomarkers. To our knowledge, this is the first time that DIA-MS was used to characterize the proteome and identify the differentially expressed proteins in menstrual blood from women with endometriosis. The results, as confirmed by ELISA, showed that CXCL5 and IL1RN protein expression is significantly increased in patients with endometriosis, indicating that these proteins can be used as biomarkers for endometriosis. This study contributes to the identification of putative endometriosis biomarkers from non-invasive samples and lays the groundwork for future research into the roles of CXCL5 and IL1RN in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sifan Ji
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 910, Hengshan Rd, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Department of Pathology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 910, Hengshan Rd, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Li Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 910, Hengshan Rd, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yiqin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 910, Hengshan Rd, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yamei Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 910, Hengshan Rd, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Qian Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 910, Hengshan Rd, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Wei Xia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 910, Hengshan Rd, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Shunna Ge
- Department of Central Laboratory, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 910, Hengshan Rd, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai 200030, China.
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 910, Hengshan Rd, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Municipal Key Clinical Specialty, Shanghai 200030, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai 200030, China.
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25
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Liao Z, Tang S, Jiang P, Geng T, Cope DI, Dunn TN, Guner J, Radilla LA, Guan X, Monsivais D. Impaired bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways disrupt decidualization in endometriosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.21.558268. [PMID: 37790548 PMCID: PMC10542516 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.21.558268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
It is hypothesized that impaired endometrial decidualization contributes to decreased fertility in individuals with endometriosis. To identify the molecular defects that underpin defective decidualization in endometriosis, we subjected endometrial stromal cells from individuals with or without endometriosis to time course in vitro decidualization with estradiol, progesterone, and 8-bromo-cyclic-AMP (EPC) for 2, 4, 6, or 8 days. Transcriptomic profiling identified differences in key pathways between the two groups, including defective bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/SMAD4 signaling (ID2, ID3, FST), oxidate stress response (NFE2L2, ALOX15, SLC40A1), and retinoic acid signaling pathways (RARRES, RARB, ALDH1B1). Genome-wide binding analyses identified an altered genomic distribution of SMAD4 and H3K27Ac in the decidualized stromal cells from individuals without endometriosis relative to those with endometriosis, with target genes enriched in pathways related to signaling by transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptors (NTRK), and nerve growth factor (NGF)-stimulated transcription. We found that direct SMAD1/5/4 target genes control FOXO, PI3K/AKT, and progesterone-mediated signaling in decidualizing cells and that BMP2 supplementation in endometriosis patient-derived assembloids elevated the expression of decidualization markers. In summary, transcriptomic and genome-wide binding analyses of patient-derived endometrial cells and assembloids identified that a functional BMP/SMAD1/5/4 signaling program is crucial for engaging decidualization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zian Liao
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Graduate Program of Genetics and Genomics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Suni Tang
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Peixin Jiang
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ting Geng
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Dominique I. Cope
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Timothy N. Dunn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Joie Guner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Linda Alpuing Radilla
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Xiaoming Guan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Diana Monsivais
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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26
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Giudice LC, Oskotsky TT, Falako S, Opoku‐Anane J, Sirota M. Endometriosis in the era of precision medicine and impact on sexual and reproductive health across the lifespan and in diverse populations. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23130. [PMID: 37641572 PMCID: PMC10503213 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Endometriosis is a common estrogen-dependent disorder wherein uterine lining tissue (endometrium) is found mainly in the pelvis where it causes inflammation, chronic pelvic pain, pain with intercourse and menses, and infertility. Recent evidence also supports a systemic inflammatory component that underlies associated co-morbidities, e.g., migraines and cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases. Genetics and environment contribute significantly to disease risk, and with the explosion of omics technologies, underlying mechanisms of symptoms are increasingly being elucidated, although novel and effective therapeutics for pain and infertility have lagged behind these advances. Moreover, there are stark disparities in diagnosis, access to care, and treatment among persons of color and transgender/nonbinary identity, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, and adolescents, and a disturbing low awareness among health care providers, policymakers, and the lay public about endometriosis, which, if left undiagnosed and under-treated can lead to significant fibrosis, infertility, depression, and markedly diminished quality of life. This review summarizes endometriosis epidemiology, compelling evidence for its pathogenesis, mechanisms underlying its pathophysiology in the age of precision medicine, recent biomarker discovery, novel therapeutic approaches, and issues around reproductive justice for marginalized populations with this disorder spanning the past 100 years. As we enter the next revolution in health care and biomedical research, with rich molecular and clinical datasets, single-cell omics, and population-level data, endometriosis is well positioned to benefit from data-driven research leveraging computational and artificial intelligence approaches integrating data and predicting disease risk, diagnosis, response to medical and surgical therapies, and prognosis for recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda C. Giudice
- UCSF Stanford Endometriosis Center for Innovation, Training, and Community Outreach (ENACT)University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Center for Reproductive SciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Tomiko T. Oskotsky
- UCSF Stanford Endometriosis Center for Innovation, Training, and Community Outreach (ENACT)University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences InstituteUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Simileoluwa Falako
- UCSF Stanford Endometriosis Center for Innovation, Training, and Community Outreach (ENACT)University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Jessica Opoku‐Anane
- UCSF Stanford Endometriosis Center for Innovation, Training, and Community Outreach (ENACT)University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Division of Gynecologic Specialty SurgeryColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Marina Sirota
- UCSF Stanford Endometriosis Center for Innovation, Training, and Community Outreach (ENACT)University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences InstituteUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
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27
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Kisovar A, Becker CM, Granne I, Southcombe JH. The role of CD8+ T cells in endometriosis: a systematic review. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1225639. [PMID: 37497226 PMCID: PMC10366819 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1225639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Endometriosis is a chronic disease affecting 6-10% of women of reproductive age. It is an important cause of infertility and chronic pelvic pain with poorly understood aetiology. CD8+ T (CD8 T) cells were shown to be linked to infertility and chronic pain and play a significant role in lesion clearance in other pathologies, yet their function in endometriosis is unknown. We systematically evaluated the literature on the CD8 T in peripheral blood and endometriosis-associated tissues to determine the current understanding of their pathophysiological and clinical relevance in the disease and associated conditions (e.g. infertility and pelvic pain). Methods Four databases were searched (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL), from database inception until September 2022, for papers written in the English language with database-specific relevant terms/free-text terms from two categories: CD8 T cells and endometriosis. We included peer-reviewed papers investigating CD8 T cells in peripheral blood and endometriosis-associated tissues of patients with surgically confirmed endometriosis between menarche and menopause, and animal models with oestrous cycles. Studies enrolling participants with other gynaecological pathologies (except uterine fibroids and tubal factor infertility used as controls), cancer, immune diseases, or taking immune or hormonal therapy were excluded. Results 28 published case-control studies and gene set analyses investigating CD8 T cells in endometriosis were included. Data consistently indicate that CD8 T cells are enriched in endometriotic lesions in comparison to eutopic endometrium, with no differences in peripheral blood CD8 T populations between patients and healthy controls. Evidence on CD8 T cells in peritoneal fluid and eutopic endometrium is conflicting. CD8 T cell cytotoxicity was increased in the menstrual effluent of patients, and genomic analyses have shown a clear trend of enriched CD8 T effector memory cells in the eutopic endometrium of patients. Conclusion Literature on CD8 T cells in endometriosis-associated tissues is inconsistent. Increased CD8 T levels are found in endometriotic lesions, however, their activation potential is understudied in all relevant tissues. Future research should focus on identifying clinically relevant phenotypes to support the development of non-invasive diagnostic and treatment strategies. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO identifier CRD42021233304.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jennifer H. Southcombe
- Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Huang CC, Hsueh YW, Chang CW, Hsu HC, Yang TC, Lin WC, Chang HM. Establishment of the fetal-maternal interface: developmental events in human implantation and placentation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1200330. [PMID: 37266451 PMCID: PMC10230101 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1200330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Early pregnancy is a complex and well-orchestrated differentiation process that involves all the cellular elements of the fetal-maternal interface. Aberrant trophoblast-decidual interactions can lead to miscarriage and disorders that occur later in pregnancy, including preeclampsia, intrauterine fetal growth restriction, and preterm labor. A great deal of research on the regulation of implantation and placentation has been performed in a wide range of species. However, there is significant species variation regarding trophoblast differentiation as well as decidual-specific gene expression and regulation. Most of the relevant information has been obtained from studies using mouse models. A comprehensive understanding of the physiology and pathology of human implantation and placentation has only recently been obtained because of emerging advanced technologies. With the derivation of human trophoblast stem cells, 3D-organoid cultures, and single-cell analyses of differentiated cells, cell type-specific transcript profiles and functions were generated, and each exhibited a unique signature. Additionally, through integrative transcriptomic information, researchers can uncover the cellular dysfunction of embryonic and placental cells in peri-implantation embryos and the early pathological placenta. In fact, the clinical utility of fetal-maternal cellular trafficking has been applied for the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidies and the prediction of pregnancy complications. Furthermore, recent studies have proposed a viable path toward the development of therapeutic strategies targeting placenta-enriched molecules for placental dysfunction and diseases.
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29
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Ma Y, Hu Y, Ma J. Animal models of the placenta accreta spectrum: current status and further perspectives. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1118168. [PMID: 37223034 PMCID: PMC10200980 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1118168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Placenta accreta spectrum disorder (PAS) is a kind of disease of placentation defined as abnormal trophoblast invasion of part or all of the placenta into the myometrium, even penetrating the uterus. Decidual deficiency, abnormal vascular remodeling in the maternal-fetal interface, and excessive invasion by extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells contribute to its onset. However, the mechanisms and signaling pathways underlying such phenotypes are not fully understood, partly due to the lack of suitable experimental animal models. Appropriate animal models will facilitate the comprehensive and systematic elucidation of the pathogenesis of PAS. Due to the remarkably similar functional placental villous units and hemochorial placentation to humans, the current animal models of PAS are based on mice. There are various mouse models induced by uterine surgery to simulate different phenotypes of PAS, such as excessive invasion of EVT or immune disturbance at the maternal-fetal interface, which could define the pathological mechanism of PAS from the perspective of the "soil." Additionally, genetically modified mouse models could be used to study PAS, which is helpful to exploring the pathogenesis of PAS from the perspectives of both "soil" and "seed," respectively. This review details early placental development in mice, with a focus on the approaches of PAS modeling. Additionally, the strengths, limitations and the applicability of each strategy and further perspectives are summarized to provide the theoretical foundation for researchers to select appropriate animal models for various research purposes. This will help better determine the pathogenesis of PAS and even promote possible therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongdan Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yongyan Hu
- Laboratory Animal Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jingmei Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
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30
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Cousins FL, McKinnon BD, Mortlock S, Fitzgerald HC, Zhang C, Montgomery GW, Gargett CE. New concepts on the etiology of endometriosis. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2023; 49:1090-1105. [PMID: 36746607 PMCID: PMC10946875 DOI: 10.1111/jog.15549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Endometriosis is a serious, chronic disorder where endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, causing severe pelvic pain and infertility. It affects 11% of women. Endometriosis is a multifactorial disorder of unclear etiology, although retrograde menstruation plays a major role. It has a genetic component with over 40 genetic risk factors mapped, although their mechanism of action is still emerging. New evidence suggests a role for retrograde menstruation of endometrial stem/progenitor cells, now that identifying markers of these cells are available. Recent lineage tracing and tissue clearing microscopy and 3D reconstruction has provided new understanding of endometrial glandular structure, particularly the horizontal orientation and interconnection of basalis glands. New sequencing technologies, particularly whole genome DNA sequencing are revealing somatic mutations, including in cancer driver genes, in normal and eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis, as well as ectopic endometriotic lesions. Methylome sequencing is offering insight into the regulation of genes and the role of the environmental factors. Single cell RNA sequencing reveals the transcriptome of individual endometrial cells, shedding new light on the diversity and range of cellular subpopulations of the major cell types present in the endometrium and in endometriotic lesions. New endometrial epithelial organoid cultures replicating glandular epithelium are providing tractable models for studying endometriosis. Organoids derived from menstrual fluid offer a non-invasive source of endometrial tissue and a new avenue for testing drugs and developing personalized medicine for treating endometriosis. These new approaches are rapidly advancing our understanding of endometriosis etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona L. Cousins
- The Ritchie CentreHudson Institute of Medical ResearchClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Brett D. McKinnon
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Sally Mortlock
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Harriet C. Fitzgerald
- The Ritchie CentreHudson Institute of Medical ResearchClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Chenyu Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Grant W. Montgomery
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Caroline E. Gargett
- The Ritchie CentreHudson Institute of Medical ResearchClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
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31
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Zheng W, Xiang D, Wen D, Luo M, Liang X, Cao L. Identification of key modules and candidate genes associated with endometriosis based on transcriptome data via bioinformatics analysis. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 244:154404. [PMID: 36996608 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Endometriosis is a common disease in women, but the signaling pathways and genes involved remain unclear. This study screened genes that were differentially expressed in ectopic endometrium (EC) and eutopic endometrium (EU) in endometriosis and provided clues for subsequent experimental verification. METHODS Endometriosis samples were harvested from inpatients that underwent surgery from 2017 to 2019 with pathological evidence of endometriosis. We assessed the mRNA expression profiles in endometriosis and further conducted gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify potential biomarkers in endometriosis. Finally, we further validated hub genes using public databases and immunohistochemistry assays. RESULTS The upregulated DEGs of ectopic endometrium from endometriosis patients were mainly involved in cell adhesion, MAPK signaling, PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, cytokine receptor interactions, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT)-associated signaling pathways. The downregulated DEGs between ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrium were related to decidualization-associated genes in endometriosis. The correlated gene modules in eutopic endometrial cells were mainly enriched in cell adhesion, embryo implantation and inflammation. The eutopic and ectopic endometrial lesions in endometriosis were involved in the EMT process. Furthermore, we identified 18 co-expression modules during WGCNA analysis. Hub genes in the pale turquoise module were FOSB, JUNB, ATF3, CXCL2, FOS, etc. Significantly enriched KEGG pathways included the TNF, MAPK, foxO, oxytocin, and p53 signaling pathways. Enrichment pathways were directly related to immune surveillance, stem cell self-renewal, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation. Several pathways and modules of endometriosis are related to cancer-associated pathways, which substantiates the correlation between endometriosis and various gynecological tumors. CONCLUSIONS Endometriosis was tightly correlated with EMT and fibrosis mediated by inflammatory immunity, cytokines, estrogen, kinases and protooncogene through transcriptomics. Overall, our findings lay the groundwork for understanding the pathogenesis of endometriosis and its relationship with malignant transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weilin Zheng
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Emergency Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dongfang Xiang
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Danting Wen
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meicheng Luo
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuefang Liang
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Lixing Cao
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
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Cressoni ACL, Penariol LBC, Padovan CC, Orellana MD, Rosa-E-Silva JC, Poli-Neto OB, Ferriani RA, de Paz CCP, Meola J. Downregulation of DROSHA: Could It Affect miRNA Biogenesis in Endometriotic Menstrual Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cells? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065963. [PMID: 36983035 PMCID: PMC10057010 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Menstrual blood mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) have gained prominence in the endometriosis scientific community, given their multifunctional roles in regenerative medicine as a noninvasive source for future clinical applications. In addition, changes in post-transcriptional regulation via miRNAs have been explored in endometriotic MenSCs with a role in modulating proliferation, angiogenesis, differentiation, stemness, self-renewal, and the mesenchymal-epithelial transition process. In this sense, homeostasis of the miRNA biosynthesis pathway is essential for several cellular processes and is related to the self-renewal and differentiation of progenitor cells. However, no studies have investigated the miRNA biogenesis pathway in endometriotic MenSCs. In this study, we profiled the expression of eight central genes for the miRNA biosynthesis pathway under experimental conditions involving a two-dimensional culture of MenSCs obtained from healthy women (n = 10) and women with endometriosis (n = 10) using RT-qPCR and reported a two-fold decrease in DROSHA expression in the disease. In addition, miR-128-3p, miR-27a-3p, miR-27b-3p, miR-181a-5p, miR-181b-5p, miR-452-3p, miR-216a-5p, miR-216b-5p, and miR-93-5p, which have been associated with endometriosis, were identified through in silico analyses as negative regulators of DROSHA. Because DROSHA is essential for miRNA maturation, our findings may justify the identification of different profiles of miRNAs with DROSHA-dependent biogenesis in endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Clara Lagazzi Cressoni
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Letícia B C Penariol
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Cristiana Carolina Padovan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Maristela D Orellana
- Regional Blood Center, Medical School of Hemocenter Foundation of Ribeirão Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14051-140, Brazil
| | - Júlio Cesar Rosa-E-Silva
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Omero Benedicto Poli-Neto
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Rui Alberto Ferriani
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
- National Institute of Hormones and Women's Health (Hormona)-CNPq, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Cristina Paro de Paz
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Juliana Meola
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
- National Institute of Hormones and Women's Health (Hormona)-CNPq, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
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Kirkwood PM, Gibson DA, Shaw I, Dobie R, Kelepouri O, Henderson NC, Saunders PTK. Single-cell RNA sequencing and lineage tracing confirm mesenchyme to epithelial transformation (MET) contributes to repair of the endometrium at menstruation. eLife 2022; 11:e77663. [PMID: 36524724 PMCID: PMC9873258 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The human endometrium experiences repetitive cycles of tissue wounding characterised by piecemeal shedding of the surface epithelium and rapid restoration of tissue homeostasis. In this study, we used a mouse model of endometrial repair and three transgenic lines of mice to investigate whether epithelial cells that become incorporated into the newly formed luminal epithelium have their origins in one or more of the mesenchymal cell types present in the stromal compartment of the endometrium. Using scRNAseq, we identified a novel population of PDGFRb + mesenchymal stromal cells that developed a unique transcriptomic signature in response to endometrial breakdown/repair. These cells expressed genes usually considered specific to epithelial cells and in silico trajectory analysis suggested they were stromal fibroblasts in transition to becoming epithelial cells. To confirm our hypothesis we used a lineage tracing strategy to compare the fate of stromal fibroblasts (PDGFRa+) and stromal perivascular cells (NG2/CSPG4+). We demonstrated that stromal fibroblasts can undergo a mesenchyme to epithelial transformation and become incorporated into the re-epithelialised luminal surface of the repaired tissue. This study is the first to discover a novel population of wound-responsive, plastic endometrial stromal fibroblasts that contribute to the rapid restoration of an intact luminal epithelium during endometrial repair. These findings form a platform for comparisons both to endometrial pathologies which involve a fibrotic response (Asherman's syndrome, endometriosis) as well as other mucosal tissues which have a variable response to wounding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe M Kirkwood
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Douglas A Gibson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Isaac Shaw
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Ross Dobie
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Olympia Kelepouri
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Neil C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Philippa TK Saunders
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
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Bonavina G, Taylor HS. Endometriosis-associated infertility: From pathophysiology to tailored treatment. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1020827. [PMID: 36387918 PMCID: PMC9643365 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1020827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the clinically recognized association between endometriosis and infertility, the mechanisms implicated in endometriosis-associated infertility are not fully understood. Endometriosis is a multifactorial and systemic disease that has pleiotropic direct and indirect effects on reproduction. A complex interaction between endometriosis subtype, pain, inflammation, altered pelvic anatomy, adhesions, disrupted ovarian reserve/function, and compromised endometrial receptivity as well as systemic effects of the disease define endometriosis-associated infertility. The population of infertile women with endometriosis is heterogeneous, and diverse patients' phenotypes can be observed in the clinical setting, thus making difficult to establish a precise diagnosis and a single mechanism of endometriosis related infertility. Moreover, clinical management of infertility associated with endometriosis can be challenging due to this heterogeneity. Innovative non-invasive diagnostic tools are on the horizon that may allow us to target the specific dysfunctional alteration in the reproduction process. Currently the treatment should be individualized according to the clinical situation and to the suspected level of impairment. Here we review the etiology of endometriosis related infertility as well as current treatment options, including the roles of surgery and assisted reproductive technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bonavina
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Hugh S Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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Quan Q, Wu J, Yu M, Tang J. Immune micro-environment and drug analysis of peritoneal endometriosis based on epithelial-mesenchymal transition classification. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1035158. [PMID: 36523599 PMCID: PMC9745086 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1035158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex event that drives polar epithelial cells transform from adherent cells to motile mesenchymal cells, in which are involved immune cells and stroma cells. EMT plays crucial roles in migration and invasion of endometriosis. The interaction of endometrial implants with the surrounding peritoneal micro-environment probably affects the development of peritoneal endometriosis. To date, very few studies have been carried out on peritoneal endometriosis sub-type classification and micro-environment analysis based on EMT. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential application of EMT-based classification in precise diagnosis and treatment of peritoneal endometriosis. METHOD Based on EMT hallmark genes, 76 peritoneal endometriosis samples were classified into two clusters by consistent cluster classification. EMT scores, which calculated by Z score of 8 epithelial cell marker genes and 8 mesenchymal cell marker genes, were compared in two clusters. Then, immune scores and the abundances of corresponding immune cells, stroma scores and the abundances of corresponding stroma cells were analyzed by the "xCell" package. Futhermore, a diagnostic model was constructed based on 9 diagnostic markers which related to immune score and stroma score by Lasso-Logistic regression analysis. Finally, based on EMT classification, a total of 8 targeted drugs against two clusters were screened out by drug susceptibility analysis via "pRRophetic" package. RESULTS Hallmark epithelial-mesenchymal transition was the mainly enriched pathway of differentially expressed genes between peritoneal endometriosis tissues and endometrium tissues. Compared with cluster 2, EMT score and the abundances of most infiltrating stroma cell were significantly higher, while the abundances of most infiltrating immune cells were dramatically less. The diagnostic model could accurately distinguish cluster 1 from cluster 2. Pathway analysis showed drug candidates targeting cluster 1 mainly act on the IGF-1 signaling pathway, and drug candidates targeting cluster 2 mainly block the EGFR signaling pathway. CONCLUSION In peritoneal endometriosis, EMT was probably promoted by stroma cell infiltration and inhibited by immune cell infiltration. Besides, our study highlighted the potential uses of the EMT classification in the precise diagnosis and treatment of peritoneal endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingli Quan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qingli Quan, ; Jia Tang,
| | - Jiabao Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Meixing Yu
- Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia Tang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qingli Quan, ; Jia Tang,
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