New insights in the pathogenesis of endometriosis: the role of stem cells

This paper is a review analyzing the hypothesis that stem cells contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis, with potential origins including the uterine endometrium and red bone marrow. It argues that stem cells that form ectopic endometriotic foci would need to migrate, attach, promote angiogenesis at implantation, and differentiate into both glandular and stromal cells. The authors state that, despite many studies, the specific cells responsible for developing endometrioid lesions have not yet been identified, which limits the ability to predict disease course or therapy efficacy based on a defined progenitor. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it focuses on the proposed role and characteristics of stem cells in the development of ectopic endometrial lesions.

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