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Endometriosis Research: From Bench to Bedside

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2019) | Viewed by 72095

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Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Filippo Del Ponte” Hospital, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, VA, Italy
Interests: women’s health; minimally invasive procedures; up-to-date management; gynecology; reproductive health; surgery
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Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Interests: developmental psychology; educational psychology; life cycle psychology; development in adolescence; attachment relationships; family; learning and quality of educational settings
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial-like endometrial cells, glands, and stroma outside the uterus, causing a strong inflammatory-like microenvironment in the affected tissue. The exact prevalence of endometriosis is unknown, but estimates range from 2%–10% of women of reproductive age, to 50% of infertile women. Its etiopathogenesis of endometriosis still remains controversial—immune, hormonal, genetic, and epigenetic factors may be all involved, and several theories have been proposed to explain it.
This Special Collection aims to publish ground-breaking research that may open new scenarios and change the perspective of the topic. This concept will not be limited to clinical work about diagnosis, or pharmacologic and surgical treatments, but it will specifically involve basic science (immunology, cell biology, genetics, and epigenetics), to unravel new pathways to follow for the future diagnosis and management of endometriosis, and to improve our current knowledge of its etiology.

Dr. Antonio Simone Laganà
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Endometriosis
  • Reproductive immunology
  • Inflammation
  • Cytokines
  • Infertility
  • In vitro fertilization
  • Peritoneal fluid
  • Apoptosis
  • Epigenetics
  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Ovary

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1887 KiB  
Article
Peritoneal Fluid Cytokines Reveal New Insights of Endometriosis Subphenotypes
by Jieliang Zhou, Bernard Su Min Chern, Peter Barton-Smith, Jessie Wai Leng Phoon, Tse Yeun Tan, Veronique Viardot-Foucault, Chee Wai Ku, Heng Hao Tan, Jerry Kok Yen Chan and Yie Hou Lee
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(10), 3515; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21103515 - 15 May 2020
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 4522
Abstract
Endometriosis is a common inflammatory gynecological disorder which causes pelvic scarring, pain, and infertility, characterized by the implantation of endometrial-like lesions outside the uterus. The peritoneum, ovaries, and deep soft tissues are the commonly involved sites, and endometriotic lesions can be classified into [...] Read more.
Endometriosis is a common inflammatory gynecological disorder which causes pelvic scarring, pain, and infertility, characterized by the implantation of endometrial-like lesions outside the uterus. The peritoneum, ovaries, and deep soft tissues are the commonly involved sites, and endometriotic lesions can be classified into three subphenotypes: superficial peritoneal endometriosis (PE), ovarian endometrioma (OE), and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). In 132 women diagnosed laparoscopically with and without endometriosis (n = 73, 59 respectively), and stratified into PE, OE, and DIE, peritoneal fluids (PF) were characterized for 48 cytokines by using multiplex immunoassays. Partial-least-squares-regression analysis revealed distinct subphenotype cytokine signatures—a six-cytokine signature distinguishing PE from OE, a seven-cytokine signature distinguishing OE from DIE, and a six-cytokine-signature distinguishing PE from DIE—each associated with different patterns of biological processes, signaling events, and immunology. These signatures describe endometriosis better than disease stages (p < 0.0001). Pathway analysis revealed the association of ERK1 and 2, AKT, MAPK, and STAT4 linked to angiogenesis, cell proliferation, migration, and inflammation in the subphenotypes. These data shed new insights on the pathophysiology of endometriosis subphenotypes, with the potential to exploit the cytokine signatures to stratify endometriosis patients for targeted therapies and biomarker discovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Endometriosis Research: From Bench to Bedside)
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24 pages, 1054 KiB  
Article
Genetic Characterization of Endometriosis Patients: Review of the Literature and a Prospective Cohort Study on a Mediterranean Population
by Stefano Angioni, Maurizio Nicola D’Alterio, Alessandra Coiana, Franco Anni, Stefano Gessa and Danilo Deiana
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(5), 1765; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21051765 - 4 Mar 2020
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 5381
Abstract
The pathogenesis of endometriosis is unknown, but some evidence supports a genetic predisposition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the recent literature on the genetic characterization of women affected by endometriosis and to evaluate the influence of polymorphisms of the wingless-type [...] Read more.
The pathogenesis of endometriosis is unknown, but some evidence supports a genetic predisposition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the recent literature on the genetic characterization of women affected by endometriosis and to evaluate the influence of polymorphisms of the wingless-type mammalian mouse tumour virus integration site family member 4 (WNT4), vezatin (VEZT), and follicle stimulating hormone beta polypeptide (FSHB) genes, already known to be involved in molecular mechanisms associated with the proliferation and development of endometriotic lesions in the Sardinian population. Materials and Methods: In order to provide a comprehensive and systematic tool for those approaching the genetics of endometriosis, the most cited review, observational, cohort and case-control studies that have evaluated the genetics of endometriosis in the last 20 years were collected. Moreover, 72 women were recruited for a molecular biology analysis of whole-blood samples—41 patients affected by symptomatic endometriosis and 31 controls. The molecular typing of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was evaluated in patients and controls: rs7521902, rs10859871 and rs11031006, mapped respectively in the WNT4, VEZT and FSHB genes. In this work, the frequency of alleles, genotypes and haplotypes of these SNPs in Sardinian women is described. Results: From the initial search, a total of 73 articles were chosen. An analysis of the literature showed that in endometriosis pathogenesis, the contribution of genetics has been well supported by many studies. The frequency of genotypes observed in the groups of the study population of 72 women was globally coherent with the law of the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. For the SNP rs11031006 (FSHB), the endometriosis group did not show an increase in genotypic or allelic frequency due to this polymorphism compared to the control group (p = 0.9999, odds ratio (OR) = 0.000, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.000–15.000 and p = 0.731, OR = 1639, 95% CI, 0.39–683, respectively, for the heterozygous genotype and the polymorphic minor allele). For the SNP rs10859871 (VEZT), we found a significant difference in the frequency of the homozygous genotype in the control group compared to the affected women (p = 0.0111, OR = 0.0602, 95% CI, 0.005–0.501). For the SNP rs7521902 (WNT4), no increase in genotypic or allelic frequency between the two groups was shown (p = 0.3088, OR = 0.4133, 95% CI, 0.10–1.8 and p = 0.3297, OR = 2257, 95% CI, 0.55–914, respectively, for the heterozygous genotype and the polymorphic minor allele). Conclusion: An analysis of recent publications on the genetics of endometriosis showed a discrepancy in the results obtained in different populations. In the Sardinian population, the results obtained do not show a significant association between the investigated variants of the genes and a greater risk of developing endometriosis, although several other studies in the literature have shown the opposite. Anyway, the data underline the importance of evaluating genetic variants in different populations. In fact, in different ethnic groups, it is possible that specific risk alleles could act differently in the pathogenesis of the disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Endometriosis Research: From Bench to Bedside)
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20 pages, 7040 KiB  
Article
Impaired Expression of Ectonucleotidases in Ectopic and Eutopic Endometrial Tissue Is in Favor of ATP Accumulation in the Tissue Microenvironment in Endometriosis
by Carla Trapero, August Vidal, Maria Eulàlia Fernández-Montolí, Buenaventura Coroleu, Francesc Tresserra, Pere Barri, Inmaculada Gómez de Aranda, Jean Sévigny, Jordi Ponce, Xavier Matias-Guiu and Mireia Martín-Satué
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(22), 5532; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20225532 - 6 Nov 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5285
Abstract
Endometriosis is a prevalent disease defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), as a proinflammatory molecule, promotes and helps maintain the inflammatory state of endometriosis. Moreover, ATP has a direct influence on the two main symptoms of [...] Read more.
Endometriosis is a prevalent disease defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), as a proinflammatory molecule, promotes and helps maintain the inflammatory state of endometriosis. Moreover, ATP has a direct influence on the two main symptoms of endometriosis: infertility and pain. Purinergic signaling, the group of biological responses to extracellular nucleotides such as ATP and nucleosides such as adenosine, is involved in the biology of reproduction and is impaired in pathologies with an inflammatory component such as endometriosis. We have previously demonstrated that ectonucleotidases, the enzymes regulating extracellular ATP levels, are active in non-pathological endometria, with hormone-dependent changes in expression throughout the cycle. In the present study we have focused on the expression of ectonucleotidases by means of immunohistochemistry and in situ activity in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissue of women with endometriosis, and we compared the results with endometria of women without the disease. We have demonstrated that the axis CD39-CD73 is altered in endometriosis, with loss of CD39 and CD73 expression in deep infiltrating endometriosis, the most severe, and most recurring, endometriosis subtype. Our results indicate that this altered expression of ectonucleotidases in endometriosis boosts ATP accumulation in the tissue microenvironment. An important finding is the identification of the nucleotide pyrophophatase/phosphodiesterase 3 (NPP3) as a new histopathological marker of the disease since we have demonstrated its expression in the stroma only in endometriosis, in both eutopic and ectopic tissue. Therefore, targeting the proteins directly involved in ATP breakdown could be an appropriate approach to consider in the treatment of endometriosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Endometriosis Research: From Bench to Bedside)
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13 pages, 2203 KiB  
Article
Role of B-Cell Translocation Gene 1 in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis
by Jeong Sook Kim, Young Sik Choi, Ji Hyun Park, Jisun Yun, Soohyun Kim, Jae Hoon Lee, Bo Hyon Yun, Joo Hyun Park, Seok Kyo Seo, SiHyun Cho, Hyun-Soo Kim and Byung Seok Lee
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(13), 3372; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20133372 - 9 Jul 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3599
Abstract
Estrogen affects endometrial cellular proliferation by regulating the expression of the c-myc gene. B-cell translocation gene 1 (BTG1), a translocation partner of the c-myc, is a tumor suppressor gene that promotes apoptosis and negatively regulates cellular proliferation and cell-to-cell adhesion. The aim [...] Read more.
Estrogen affects endometrial cellular proliferation by regulating the expression of the c-myc gene. B-cell translocation gene 1 (BTG1), a translocation partner of the c-myc, is a tumor suppressor gene that promotes apoptosis and negatively regulates cellular proliferation and cell-to-cell adhesion. The aim of this study was to determine the role of BTG1 in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. BTG1 mRNA and protein expression was evaluated in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of 30 patients with endometriosis (endometriosis group), and in eutopic endometrium of 22 patients without endometriosis (control group). The effect of BTG1 downregulation on cellular migration, proliferation, and apoptosis was evaluated using transfection of primarily cultured human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) with BTG1 siRNA. BTG1 mRNA expression level of eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis group were significantly lower than that of the eutopic endometrium of the control group. Migration and wound healing assays revealed that BTG1 downregulation resulted in a significant increase in migration potential of HESCs, characterized by increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and MMP9. Downregulation of BTG1 in HESCs significantly reduced Caspase 3 expression, indicating a decrease in apoptotic potential. In conclusion, our data suggest that downregulation of BTG1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Endometriosis Research: From Bench to Bedside)
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Review

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24 pages, 1331 KiB  
Review
Biomarkers for the Noninvasive Diagnosis of Endometriosis: State of the Art and Future Perspectives
by Costin Vlad Anastasiu, Marius Alexandru Moga, Andrea Elena Neculau, Andreea Bălan, Ioan Scârneciu, Roxana Maria Dragomir, Ana-Maria Dull and Liana-Maria Chicea
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(5), 1750; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21051750 - 4 Mar 2020
Cited by 100 | Viewed by 16035
Abstract
Background: Early and accurate diagnosis of endometriosis is crucial for the management of this benign, yet debilitating pathology. Despite the advances of modern medicine, there is no common ground regarding the pathophysiology of this disease as it continues to affect the quality of [...] Read more.
Background: Early and accurate diagnosis of endometriosis is crucial for the management of this benign, yet debilitating pathology. Despite the advances of modern medicine, there is no common ground regarding the pathophysiology of this disease as it continues to affect the quality of life of millions of women of reproductive age. The lack of specific symptoms often determines a belated diagnosis. The gold standard remains invasive, surgery followed by a histopathological exam. A biomarker or a panel of biomarkers is easy to measure, usually noninvasive, and could benefit the clinician in both diagnosing and monitoring the treatment response. Several studies have advanced the idea of biomarkers for endometriosis, thereby circumventing unnecessary invasive techniques. Our paper aims at harmonizing the results of these studies in the search of promising perspectives on early diagnosis. Methods: We selected the papers from Google Academic, PubMed, and CrossRef and reviewed recent articles from the literature, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of various putative serum and urinary biomarkers for endometriosis. Results: The majority of studies focused on a panel of biomarkers, rather than a single biomarker and were unable to identify a single biomolecule or a panel of biomarkers with sufficient specificity and sensitivity in endometriosis. Conclusion: Noninvasive biomarkers, proteomics, genomics, and miRNA microarray may aid the diagnosis, but further research on larger datasets along with a better understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms are needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Endometriosis Research: From Bench to Bedside)
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12 pages, 792 KiB  
Review
Ion Channels in The Pathogenesis of Endometriosis: A Cutting-Edge Point of View
by Gaetano Riemma, Antonio Simone Laganà, Antonio Schiattarella, Simone Garzon, Luigi Cobellis, Raffaele Autiero, Federico Licciardi, Luigi Della Corte, Marco La Verde and Pasquale De Franciscis
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(3), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21031114 - 7 Feb 2020
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6089
Abstract
Background: Ion channels play a crucial role in many physiological processes. Several subtypes are expressed in the endometrium. Endometriosis is strictly correlated to estrogens and it is evident that expression and functionality of different ion channels are estrogen-dependent, fluctuating between the menstrual phases. [...] Read more.
Background: Ion channels play a crucial role in many physiological processes. Several subtypes are expressed in the endometrium. Endometriosis is strictly correlated to estrogens and it is evident that expression and functionality of different ion channels are estrogen-dependent, fluctuating between the menstrual phases. However, their relationship with endometriosis is still unclear. Objective: To summarize the available literature data about the role of ion channels in the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis. Methods: A search on PubMed and Medline databases was performed from inception to November 2019. Results: Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), transient receptor potentials (TRPs), aquaporins (AQPs), and chloride channel (ClC)-3 expression and activity were analyzed. CFTR expression changed during the menstrual phases and was enhanced in endometriosis samples; its overexpression promoted endometrial cell proliferation, migration, and invasion throughout nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells-urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (NFκB-uPAR) signaling pathway. No connection between TRPs and the pathogenesis of endometriosis was found. AQP5 activity was estrogen-increased and, through phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), helped in vivo implantation of ectopic endometrium. In vitro, AQP9 participated in extracellular signal-regulated kinases/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/p38 MAPK) pathway and helped migration and invasion stimulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9. ClC-3 was also overexpressed in ectopic endometrium and upregulated MMP9. Conclusion: Available evidence suggests a pivotal role of CFTR, AQPs, and ClC-3 in endometriosis etiopathogenesis. However, data obtained are not sufficient to establish a direct role of ion channels in the etiology of the disease. Further studies are needed to clarify this relationship. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Endometriosis Research: From Bench to Bedside)
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42 pages, 1346 KiB  
Review
The Pathogenesis of Endometriosis: Molecular and Cell Biology Insights
by Antonio Simone Laganà, Simone Garzon, Martin Götte, Paola Viganò, Massimo Franchi, Fabio Ghezzi and Dan C. Martin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(22), 5615; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20225615 - 10 Nov 2019
Cited by 345 | Viewed by 29863
Abstract
The etiopathogenesis of endometriosis is a multifactorial process resulting in a heterogeneous disease. Considering that endometriosis etiology and pathogenesis are still far from being fully elucidated, the current review aims to offer a comprehensive summary of the available evidence. We performed a narrative [...] Read more.
The etiopathogenesis of endometriosis is a multifactorial process resulting in a heterogeneous disease. Considering that endometriosis etiology and pathogenesis are still far from being fully elucidated, the current review aims to offer a comprehensive summary of the available evidence. We performed a narrative review synthesizing the findings of the English literature retrieved from computerized databases from inception to June 2019, using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) unique ID term “Endometriosis” (ID:D004715) with “Etiology” (ID:Q000209), “Immunology” (ID:Q000276), “Genetics” (ID:D005823) and “Epigenesis, Genetic” (ID:D044127). Endometriosis may origin from Müllerian or non-Müllerian stem cells including those from the endometrial basal layer, Müllerian remnants, bone marrow, or the peritoneum. The innate ability of endometrial stem cells to regenerate cyclically seems to play a key role, as well as the dysregulated hormonal pathways. The presence of such cells in the peritoneal cavity and what leads to the development of endometriosis is a complex process with a large number of interconnected factors, potentially both inherited and acquired. Genetic predisposition is complex and related to the combined action of several genes with limited influence. The epigenetic mechanisms control many of the processes involved in the immunologic, immunohistochemical, histological, and biological aberrations that characterize the eutopic and ectopic endometrium in affected patients. However, what triggers such alterations is not clear and may be both genetically and epigenetically inherited, or it may be acquired by the particular combination of several elements such as the persistent peritoneal menstrual reflux as well as exogenous factors. The heterogeneity of endometriosis and the different contexts in which it develops suggest that a single etiopathogenetic model is not sufficient to explain its complex pathobiology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Endometriosis Research: From Bench to Bedside)
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