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Biomolecules
Special Issues
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Endometriosis: 2nd Edition
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Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Endometriosis: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2026 | Viewed by 5444

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Luciana Bordin

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Guest Editor
Department of Women's and Children's Health—SDB, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35131 Padova, Italy
Interests: protein purification; protein tyr-phosphorylation and dephosphorylation; inflammatory and metabolic dìseases; oxidative stress; eryptosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alessandra Andrisani

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Guest Editor
Department of Women's and Children's Health—SDB, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35131 Padova, Italy
Interests: endometriosis; ovarian
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Chiara Sabbadin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medicine—Endocrinology Unit, Hospital University of Padua, 35131 Padova, Italy
Interests: hypertension; renin-angiotensin system; polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); metabolic syndrome; hyperaldosteronism; autoimmune disease; addison disease; adrenal insufficiency
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following a very successful first run, we are pleased to announce the launch of a second edition of a Special Issue on the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Endometriosis.

The presence of endometrial-like tissue (that is, the tissue that lines the uterine cavity) outside of the uterus is the common definition for endometriosis, characterized by three recognized phenotypes: superficial peritoneal lesions (SUP), ovarian endometriomas (OMA), and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE).

Recent advances in the mechanisms, diagnosis, and management of endometriosis have set the concept of the endometriosis life context as a 360-degree approach to understanding and treating this disease.

The focus of this Special Issue of Biomolecules will be on the most recent advances, theories, and biomarkers, from inflammation-related immune system activation to the genetic/epigenetic involvement of the associated comorbidities and potential new treatments.

Dr. Luciana Bordin
Dr. Alessandra Andrisani
Dr. Chiara Sabbadin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • endocrine disfunction in endometriosis
  • glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) and GPI-anchored proteins
  • oxidative stress markers (glutathione, carbonic anhydrase, etc.)
  • endometriosis and deep endometriosis
  • endometriosis-related immune system

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 2373 KB  
Article
Progesterone and IL-6 Expression Are Modulated by Follicular Fluid in Granulosa Cell Cultures
by Loris Marin, Chiara Sabbadin, Claudia Maria Radu, Paola Brun, Carolina Frison, Giuseppe Gullo, Decio Armanini, Luciana Bordin, Eugenio Ragazzi, Guido Ambrosini and Alessandra Andrisani
Biomolecules 2025, 15(12), 1646; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15121646 - 23 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1006
Abstract
Endometriosis (ENDO) and poor ovarian response (POR) represent challenging conditions in assisted reproduction. Both, associated with altered follicular fluid (FF) composition, specifically impact on granulosa cell (GC) function in an incompletely understood way. GCs from male factor (MF, n = 30), ENDO ( [...] Read more.
Endometriosis (ENDO) and poor ovarian response (POR) represent challenging conditions in assisted reproduction. Both, associated with altered follicular fluid (FF) composition, specifically impact on granulosa cell (GC) function in an incompletely understood way. GCs from male factor (MF, n = 30), ENDO (n = 38), and POR (n = 27) patients were cultured in media supplemented with FF from each group (FF-MF, FF-ENDO, FF-POR). Proliferation, morphology, and secretory activity (cortisol, estradiol, progesterone, IL-6) were assessed. GC proliferation depended primarily on FF origin, being highest with FF-ENDO, intermediate with FF-POR, and lowest with FF-MF. Morphological analysis revealed enrichment of muscle-like and fibroblast-like morphologies under FF-ENDO and FF-POR, suggestive of dysregulated luteinization and extracellular matrix remodeling. Secretory activity reflected a complex interplay between GC origin and FF type: IL-6 was strongly induced by FF-MF and FF-POR but consistently suppressed by FF-ENDO; cortisol and estradiol were generally consumed, while progesterone synthesis was largely confined to MF-GCs, with only variable induction in ENDO-GCs exposed to FF-POR. These findings indicate that pathological FF milieus reprogram GC behavior in distinct ways, with potential consequences for luteal function and oocyte competence. Identifying the molecular mediators of these alterations may guide tailored strategies to improve ART outcomes in ENDO and POR patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Endometriosis: 2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 4057 KB  
Article
Role of Salivary MicroRNA as a Marker of Progesterone Resistance in Endometriosis: Preliminary Results from a Single-Institution Experience
by Matilde Degano, Giorgia Vesca, Michela Bulfoni, Silvia Zermano, Stefano Restaino, Martina Arcieri, Errico Zupi, Renato Seracchioli, Lorenza Driul, Daniela Cesselli, Giovanni Scambia, Anna Biasioli and Giuseppe Vizzielli
Biomolecules 2025, 15(4), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15040493 - 27 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2620
Abstract
This feasibility study explores the potential of salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosing endometriosis and assessing treatment response. Almost one-third of patients with endometriosis do not respond to the standard progestin treatment due to various mechanisms of progesterone resistance. MiRNAs, recognized [...] Read more.
This feasibility study explores the potential of salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosing endometriosis and assessing treatment response. Almost one-third of patients with endometriosis do not respond to the standard progestin treatment due to various mechanisms of progesterone resistance. MiRNAs, recognized for their stability in body fluids and role in gene regulation, may offer new diagnostic and prognostic opportunities as they are involved in the pathogenic pathways of endometriosis and progesterone resistance. We sequenced salivary miRNAs in three cohorts of patients: control women without endometriosis and patients with endometriosis who responded and did not respond to standard progestin treatment. This aims to identify the differential miRNA expression profiles associated with therapeutic response to dienogest. The preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of miRNA sequencing from saliva and reveal distinct miRNA profiles between responders, non-responders, and controls. Key miRNAs, including mir-3168, the mir-200a family, and mir-93-5p, emerged as potential biomarkers, showing significant differential expression linked to both endometriosis presence and treatment response. Further validation of these findings in larger cohorts could pave the way for miRNA-based diagnostic and prognostic tools, potentially reducing diagnostic delays and personalizing treatment approaches for endometriosis patients, also with new target therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Endometriosis: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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22 pages, 765 KB  
Review
Endometriosis at the Single-Cell Level: Molecular Insights and Implications for Assisted Reproduction Success
by Angeliki Gerede, Efthymios Oikonomou, Foteini Gkaitatzi, Maria Danavasi, Panayiota Papasozomenou, Anastasios Potiris, Sofoklis Stavros, Vasiliki Kourti, Aikaterini Domali, Nikoletta Koutlaki and Menelaos Zafrakas
Biomolecules 2026, 16(3), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16030402 - 9 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1195
Abstract
Endometriosis is a chronic hormone-responsive disorder linked to infertility, usually characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrium in the pelvis that disrupts local homeostasis. Advances in single-cell “omic” methods have revealed the remarkable cellular diversity within the eutopic endometrium and endometriosis lesions, uncovering [...] Read more.
Endometriosis is a chronic hormone-responsive disorder linked to infertility, usually characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrium in the pelvis that disrupts local homeostasis. Advances in single-cell “omic” methods have revealed the remarkable cellular diversity within the eutopic endometrium and endometriosis lesions, uncovering distinct populations with unique transcriptional and functional profiles. These studies have highlighted alterations in immune cell subsets, stromal and epithelial cell signaling, and intercellular communication networks that collectively impair oocyte quality, embryo development, and endometrial receptivity in women with endometriosis. By dissecting the molecular signatures of individual cells, single-cell approaches provide insights into the mechanisms driving persistent inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, hormonal dysregulation, and immune dysfunction in endometriosis. Importantly, emerging evidence indicates that infertility and reduced assisted reproductive technology (ART) success in endometriosis reflect coordinated cellular and molecular dysfunction rather than solely anatomical abnormalities. Single-cell analyses of oocytes, granulosa cells, and endometrial cell populations demonstrate transcriptomic and epigenetic alterations affecting mitochondrial function, steroid metabolism, immune regulation, and implantation-related signaling pathways, offering a biological explanation for impaired implantation and variable ART outcomes. Integration of these findings with clinical observations supports the concept that endometriosis-associated reproductive failure arises from combined ovarian and endometrial defects detectable at the cellular level. Current single-cell studies highlight candidate biomarker signatures with the potential to improve patient stratification, predict ART outcomes, and guide individualized therapeutic strategies. As these discoveries are refined into clinically applicable biomarker panels, single-cell technologies are poised to bridge mechanistic understanding and precision reproductive medicine, enabling more personalized management approaches aimed at restoring reproductive competence in patients with endometriosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Endometriosis: 2nd Edition)
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