Nuclear expression of Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is mutually exclusive in endometrial glandular cells of endometriosis lesions

Background: VDR and AHR are nuclear receptors, which exert their function through binding with ligands and formation of a molecular complex. These complexes translocate to the nucleus and activate the expression of a series of genes with a responsive element to VDR or AHR. Both receptors have been identified to play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis (EM), a common gynecologic disorder characterized by the formation of endometrial tissues outside the uterine cavity. Despite numerous therapies, there are no resolute cures for endometriosis at the pharmacological level.