Significance of Stem Cells in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis

The pathogenesis of endometriosis(EMs) which is multifactorial remains unclear.Studies have proved there are stem/progenitor cells(SC) in endometrium,including endometrium-derived and bone marrow-derived SC,which induce the periodic regeneration of endometrium.More and more studies attempt to identify specific markers of SC in order to isolate and characterize endometrial SC.And they put forward the endometrial stem cell hypothesis of EMs,which consider EMs is induced by abnormal proliferation and differentiation of SC.All kinds of stem cells provide the seeds,while menstrual reflux,estrogen therapy and the microenvironment provide the soil.Once the seeds meet the soil,EMs will occure.This hypothesis uncovers a new era of the pathogenesis and clinical research on EMs.