Endometrial stem/progenitor cells and their role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis

Fiona L. Cousins, Dorien F O, O DF, Caroline E. Gargett, Gargett CE
Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology · 2018 · vol. 50 , pp. 27–38 · doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2018.01.011 · PMID:29503126 · W2794339668
Review OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 98 in-corpus citations
View on OpenAlex View on PubMed View at publisher
⚙ AI-generated summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This paper reviews the role of endometrial stem/progenitor cells in the development and progression of endometriosis.

One-sentence paraphrase of the abstract; not a substitute for reading it. No clinical advice. How this works

Abstract

Human endometrium regenerates on a cyclical basis each month, likely mediated by endometrial stem/progenitor cells. Several types of stem/progenitor cells have been identified: CD140b+CD146+ or SUSD2+ endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs), N-cadherin+ endometrial epithelial progenitor cells (eEPs), and side population (SP) cells, a heterogeneous population predominantly comprising endothelial cells. eMSCs reside in a perivascular niche and likely mediate angiogenesis and stromal regeneration. Human eEPs are located in the bases of glands in the basalis and are likely more primitive than SSEA-1+ basalis epithelial cells. Endometrial stem/progenitor cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis by their retrograde shedding into the pelvic cavity, either after menarche or as a result of neonatal uterine bleeding. eMSCs may have a role in the generation of progesterone-resistant phenotype of endometrial stromal fibroblasts (eSFs) in endometriosis. In future clinical practice, endometrial stem/progenitor cells may be used to establish diagnosis of endometriosis or as therapeutic targets.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometrium Stem Cells Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Female Fibroblasts Fibroblasts Fibroblasts Humans Humans Menstruation Menstruation Menstruation Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Citation neighborhood (2-hop)

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. Outer rings show 2-hop neighbours — papers reached through the immediate citers/citees. [ collapse to 1-hop ]

References (81)

Cited by (50)

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-10-14T06:08:39.101224+00:00
openalex
last seen: 2026-06-10T17:14:06.276822+00:00
pubmed
last seen: 2026-10-08T21:21:33.560900+00:00
unpaywall
last seen: 2026-10-14T06:23:58.021457+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK