We have previously shown that interleukin-8 (IL-8), a cytokine with neutrophil chemotactic/activating and T cell chemotactic activity, is produced by human endometrial stromal and glandular cells in culture. The present study investigated t…
Inflammatory processes have been hypothesized to mediate some of the clinical sequelae associated with endometriosis. The peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with endometriosis is known to contain more inflammatory cells and their associated cyt…
To evaluate the clinical utility of recently developed biochemical markers in the assessment of bone metabolism during GnRH agonist (GnRHa) treatment, we compared five bone resorption markers [C-telopeptide (CTX) and N-telopeptide (NTX) of …
A high incidence of irregular uterine bleeding is the primary patient complaint limiting the utility of long term, progestin-only contraceptive agents such as Norplant. The onset of hemorrhage requires both inadequate hemostasis and impaire…
To shed light on the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of uterine leiomyomas, transcript levels of the immediate early genes c-fos, c-myc, and c-jun and of the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were deter…
alpha-2 macroglobulin (A2M) is a 718,000-kDA broad spectrum plasma protease inhibitor whose production by the human endometrium was recently reported. The multifunctional A2M receptor, also known as low-density lipoprotein receptor-related …
Retrograde menstruation is postulated as the initiating event in the histogenesis of endometriosis; however, subsequent steps in the pathogenesis of this common disorder remain poorly characterized. The ip accumulation of activated leukocyt…
C19 steroids are converted to estrogens by aromatase P450 (P450arom). Aromatase expression in humans is regulated by use of tissue-specific promoters in the placenta (promoter I.1), adipose tissue (promoters I.4, I.3, and II), and gonads (p…
Estrogen withdrawal in women leads initially to rapid bone loss caused by increased numbers or activity of osteoclasts. We previously have noted apoptosis of lacunar osteocytes associated with conditions of high bone turnover. Therefore, in…
Using an antibody (6313/G2) directed against a specific sequence in the extracellular domain of the type 1 angiotensin II receptor (AT1), we demonstrated the presence of angiotensin II (AII) receptors in human fallopian tube. Immunoperoxida…
The fact that RU 486 curtailed estrogen-induced endometrial proliferation in primates and relieved pelvic pain in women with endometriosis is the reason for continuing research on antiprogestins. Thirty-two adult female cynomolgus monkeys d…
The conversion of C19 steroids to estrogens occurs in a number of tissues, such as the ovary and placenta, and is catalyzed by aromatase P450 (P450arom; the product of the CYP19 gene). P450arom expression has also been detected in a number …
An in vitro model developed to compare human endometrial and endometriosis stromal cells was used to examine basal and stimulated expression of interleukin (IL-6). Stromal cells isolated from normal endometrium (NE) exhibited the lowest lev…
C3 production by the human endometrium has been previously described. The objective of the current study was to localize the site of expression and regulation of the third component of complement, C3, in the endometrium. Eight secretory and…
The human endometrium undergoes a complex process of vascular and glandular proliferation, differentiation, and regeneration with each menstrual cycle in preparation for implantation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothel…
To examine the cause of altered follicular fluid steroid levels and lower in vitro fertilization rate observed in infertile women with minor endometriosis, we have compared the production of estradiol (aromatase activity) and progesterone o…
Endometriosis (EM) is characterized by the aberrant growth of endometrial cells at sites outside the uterus. We showed previously that peritoneal leukocyte interleukin-6 (IL-6) production is altered in women with EM relative to that in norm…
GnRH regulates gonadotropin biosynthesis and release in the anterior pituitary via specific receptors. Although extrapituitary expression and action of GnRH have been shown in some species, in the human it is not clear whether GnRH has a pe…
De novo synthesized endometriosis protein-II (ENDO-II; M(r) 28,000 to 32,000; pI 7.0 to 9.0) was partially purified from rat endometriotic tissue culture media using affinity chromatography and two-dimensional SDS-PAGE. The protein was elec…
Integrins are ubiquitous cell adhesion molecules that undergo dynamic alterations during the normal menstrual cycle in the human endometrium. The alpha v beta 3 vitronectin receptor integrin is expressed in endometrium at the time of implan…
Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder of unclear pathogenesis. We have established an in vitro model to investigate phenotypic similarities and differences between normal endometrial and endometriosis cells. Highly purified cultu…
The molecular mechanisms by which endometriosis persists in locations outside the uterus are unclear. Recently, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) has been postulated to have a role in the disease process of endometriosis. To expl…
Peritoneal fluid (PF) lines the abdomen and pelvis and is believed to contain growth factors that stimulate endometriosis, a benign gynecological condition associated with pelvic pain and infertility, in which endometrial cells proliferate …
Adenomyosis is a benign disease in women in which myometrium is invaded by endometrial glands and stroma. Our laboratory recently demonstrated that normal human endometrial glands and stroma express the hCG/LH receptor gene. This prompted u…