Dysfunction in macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of aberrant cells that undergo retrograde transport to the peritoneal cavity is considered an important factor in the development of endometriosis. However, the mechanisms responsible for the …
PROBLEM: The expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is considered as a marker of macrophage activation and has been implicated in the development of endometriosis. Leptin is an immunomodulator, which may also affect the development of endomet…
Aberrant expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in human endometriotic stromal cells plays an important role in the development of endometriosis. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is a potent inducer of StAR expression in…
Elevated expression of leptin in endometriotic tissue results in an increase in stromal cell proliferation and may contribute to the development of endometriosis. However, the underlying mechanism responsible for aberrant expression of lept…
Endometriosis is considered to be a polygenic disease with a complex, multifactorial aetiology that affects about 10% of women in the reproductive age. Women with endometriosis have symptoms that include chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea a…
Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF-9) is a potent mitogen that controls the proper development of many tissues and organs. In contrast, aberrant expression of FGF-9 also results in the evolution of many human diseases, such as cancers and endo…
Aberrant production of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays pivotal roles in many pathological processes including tumorigenesis and endometriosis, although the underlying mechanism remains obscure. Herein we report evidence to demonstrate that C…
Decreased phagocytotic ability of macrophages has been reported to be associated with the severity of endometriosis, although the underlying mechanism remains uncharacterized. Expression and secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 by …
Fibroblast growth factor-9 (FGF-9) is a steroid-regulated mitogen and survival factor for nerve and mesenchymal cells. In the current study, we determined the expression pattern and functional roles of FGF-9 in the ectopic endometriotic les…
Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) regulates the first committed step in the biosynthesis of steroids, and thus aberrant expression of StAR in endometriotic implants plays a critical role in the etiology of endometriosis. However…
Prostaglandin (PG) E2 has been shown to stimulate steroidogenesis in ectopic endometriotic stromal cells and may be involved in the development of endometriosis since this disorder is highly estrogen dependent. The biosynthesis of PGE2 is c…
Endometriosis is a polygenic disease with complex, multifactorial aetiologies affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. Leptin is the product of the ob gene, which is related to reproductive function and immunological altera…