Endometrial stromal and epithelial cell cross talk is known to influence many of the dynamic changes that occur during the menstrual cycle. We modified our previous model and embedded telomerase-immortalized human endometrial stromal cells …
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…
Accumulating evidence indicates that reduced fecundity associated with endometriosis reflects a failure of embryonic receptivity. Microdomains composed of endometrial gap junctions, which facilitate cell-cell communication, may be implicate…
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate neurotrophin (NT) expression in the endometrium of women with and without endometriosis. DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional, translational study. SETTING: Academic hospital. PATIENT(S): Thirty-three reproductive-…
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) on establishment and growth of endometrial lesions, peritoneal interleukin-6 (IL-6) and macrophage chemotactic factor-1 (MCP-1) concentrations, and CD38, CD11b, and F4/80 e…
CONTEXT: Uterine decidualization is critical to embryonic implantation and sustained pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of gap junction intercellular communications and connexin (Cx) proteins in the morphological and biochemical di…
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endometrial angiogenesis play a critical role in successful embryonic implantation. Despite many studies of the effects of estrogen and progesterone on VEGF expression, its focal regulation at t…
Like tumor metastases, endometriotic implants require neovascularization to proliferate and invade into ectopic sites within the host. Endometrial tissue, with its robust stem cell populations and remarkable regenerative capabilities, is a …
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma ligands can affect the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cytokines related to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. DESIGN: In vitro study to determi…
There is ample evidence demonstrating that endometriosis is accompanied by inflammatory reactions in the peritoneum, resulting in abnormal levels of a variety of cytokines and chemokines in the peritoneal fluid. Among the immunological para…
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether retinoic acid (RA) can regulate the expression of interleukin (IL)-6 in human endometrial cells in a manner that might be beneficial to women with endometriosis. DESIGN: In vitro study. SETTING: Academic me…
OBJECTIVE: To determine the direct action of RU486 on endometrial cell proliferation and to differentiate whether the antioxidant or the antiprogesterone property of RU486 is predominately responsible for its effect on cell growth. DESIGN:…