Extracellular Vesicles in Endometriosis: A Comprehensive Review of Biological Insights and Methodological Challenges

Aleksander Chodowiec, Magdalena Dec, Krzysztof Łuszczyński, Robert Zdanowski, Monika Szafarowska, Ludmiła Szewczak, Agnieszka Synowiec, Paweł Mitkowski, Paweł K. Włodarski, Anna Lutyńska, Aneta Ścieżyńska
In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2026 · vol. 27(11) , pp. 4666 · doi:10.3390/ijms27114666 · PMID:42278200 · W7162097312
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-06 ⓘ

This review systematically analyzed 50 studies on extracellular vesicles in endometriosis, revealing significant heterogeneity in terminology and methodology despite consistent use of standard EV markers.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a complex disorder associated with dysregulated immune, hormonal, and microenvironmental signaling. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important mediators of intercellular communication and may contribute to disease pathogenesis, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic targeting. Here, we systematically reviewed the literature on EVs in endometriosis, focusing on EV classification, isolation and characterization methods, and the functional relevance of EV-associated cargo. A total of 50 original studies were included and evaluated in the context of current International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) recommendations. Our analysis revealed marked heterogeneity in EV nomenclature, biological sources, and methodological approaches. Although most studies used standard EV markers, the assessment of sample purity and inclusion of negative controls was inconsistent. Further studies using standardized workflows and well-characterized cohorts are needed to clarify their biological and clinical significance.

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endometriosis

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Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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europepmc
last seen: 2026-06-13T06:22:48.782012+00:00
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