Endometrial Anomalies in Women with Endometriosis

Sharpe-Timms, Kathy L.

doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb03797.x

Cited by 173 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…For some time, endometriosis research has focused on comparisons of various physiological processes in the endometrium (ectopic vs eutopic) of women affected by endometriosis, against unaffected women (Sharpe-Timms 2001). This has identified multiple anomalies in genetic, environment, angiogenic, endocrine, metabolic and immunological mechanisms.…”

Section: Endometriosis and The Neoplastic Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endometriosis and the neoplastic process

Varma¹,

Rollason²,

Gupta³

et al. 2004

Reproduction

184

146

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Endometriosis is a frequent disorder that commonly presents with infertility and pelvic pain. Although the precise aetiology of endometriosis is unclear, it is generally considered to involve multiple genetic, environmental, immunological, angiogenic and endocrine processes. Genetic factors have been implicated in endometriosis but the susceptibility genes remain largely unknown. Although endometriosis is a benign disorder, recent studies of endometriosis suggest endometriosis could be viewed as a neoplastic process. Evidence to support this hypothesis includes the increased susceptibility to develop ovarian clear-cell and endometrioid cancers in the presence of endometriosis, and molecular similarities between endometriosis and cancer. In this article we discuss (i) the evidence suggesting that endometriosis might be viewed as a neoplastic process, and (ii) the implications of this hypothesis for elucidating the pathogenesis of endometriosis and developing novel methods of diagnostic classification and individualised treatments.

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Section: Endometriosis and The Neoplastic Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endometriosis and the neoplastic process

Varma¹,

Rollason²,

Gupta³

et al. 2004

Reproduction

184

146

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“…The cysts in rats and women share many structural and molecular features (58). The growths contain or evoke abnormal production in nearby tissues of many substances that have been hypothesized to play as yet unspecified roles in the signs and symptoms of ENDO.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Endometriosis as a neurovascular condition: estrous variations in innervation, vascularization, and growth factor content of ectopic endometrial cysts in the rat

Zhang

Dmitrieva²,

Liu³

et al. 2008

American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comp

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Endometriosis is a poorly understood, estradiol-dependent condition associated with severe pelvic pains and defined by vascularized endometrial growths outside the uterus. Endometriosis is produced in cycling rats by autotransplanting pieces of uterus onto abdominal arteries where they develop into cysts. The surgery induces vaginal and abdominal muscle hyperalgesia, whose severity is greatest in proestrus and nearly absent in estrus. The cysts contain growth factors and cytokines and develop their own sympathetic and sensory C-and A␦-fiber innervation. Here, we used quantitative immunostaining and protein array analyses to test the hypothesis that the innervation and growth factor/cytokine content of the cysts, but not uterine horn, contribute to proestrous-to-estrous changes in hyperalgesic severity. If so, these characteristics in the cysts, but not the uterine horn, should change with estrous stage. In cysts, the density of sympathetic (but not sensory) neurites and amounts of NGF and VEGF proteins (but not cytokines IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, or TNF-␣) were greater in proestrus than estrus. These changes were accompanied by vascular changes. Both sympathetic and sensory fibers in both stages colabeled with TrkA, indicating that changes in NGF could act on both afferent and efferent fibers. In contrast with the cysts, no changes occurred in the uterine horn between proestrus and estrus. Together, these results suggest that coordinated proestrous-to-estrous changes in innervation and vascularization of the cysts contribute to similar changes in hyperalgesic severity. The findings also encourage consideration of endometriosis as a neurovascular condition.

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“…These include the expression of several ATRAregulated genes and cytokines that are aberrantly expressed in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis, including matrix metalloproteinases, tumor necrosis factor-b, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-11, various integrins, bax, and fas ligand. [48][49][50] As such, a number of seemingly discordant features of endometriosis including decreased cell death, increased growth and migration, and enhanced invasive properties of intraperitoneally seeded endometrial cells could be accounted for by dysregulation of ATRA synthesis in endometrial tissue. In further support of this concept, it has recently been shown that endometriotic tissue is characterized by a gene expression pattern that is consistent with a decrease in ATRA synthesis and/or action in situ.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Follicular Fluid Retinoids in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: Retinoic Acid Influences Embryo Quality and Is Reduced in Women With Endometriosis

et al. 2013

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Retinol (ROL) and its biologically active metabolite, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), are essential for a number of reproductive processes. However, there is a paucity of information regarding their roles in ovarian folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, and early embryogenesis. The objectives of this study were to quantify and compare peripheral plasma (PP) and follicular fluid (FF) retinoid levels, including ATRA in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and to investigate the relationship between retinoid levels and embryo quality. Retinoid levels were evaluated in PP and FF from 79 women undergoing IVF at the time of oocyte retrieval and corresponding embryo quality assessed on a daily basis after retrieval for 3 days until uterine transfer. Analysis compared the retinoid levels with day 3 embryo grades and between endometriosis versus control patients. Results demonstrated distinctive levels of retinoid metabolites and isomers in FF versus PP. There was a significantly larger percentage of high-quality grade I embryos derived from the largest versus smallest follicles. An increase in follicle size also correlated with a >50% increase in FF ROL and ATRA concentrations. Independent of follicle size, FF yielding grade I versus nongrade I embryos showed higher mean levels of ATRA but not ROL. In a nested case-control analysis, control participants had 50% higher mean levels of ATRA in their FF and PP than women with endometriosis. These findings strongly support the proposition that ATRA plays a fundamental role in oocyte development and quality, and that reduced ATRA synthesis may contribute to decreased fecundity of participants with endometriosis.

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Endometrial Anomalies in Women with Endometriosis

Cited by 173 publications

References 77 publications

Endometriosis and the neoplastic process

Endometriosis and the neoplastic process

Endometriosis as a neurovascular condition: estrous variations in innervation, vascularization, and growth factor content of ectopic endometrial cysts in the rat

Analysis of Follicular Fluid Retinoids in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: Retinoic Acid Influences Embryo Quality and Is Reduced in Women With Endometriosis

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