Characteristics of menstrual blood-derived stem cells from women with endometriosis: A systematic review

Leila Adamyan, Laura Pivazyan, Evdokiya Zarova, Maria Yurkanova, Sona Barsegyan, K.S. Mailova, Assia Stepanian
In: Journal of Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders · 2026 · vol. 14 , pp. 100162 · doi:10.1016/j.jeud.2026.100162 · W7155055371
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This systematic review characterizes menstrual blood-derived stem cells from women with endometriosis, examining their unique properties compared to controls.

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Abstract

This systematic review investigates the characteristics of menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) in women with endometriosis (EM) and their potential role in non-invasive diagnostics and therapeutic development. Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease that affects approximately 10% of reproductive-age women and often leads to chronic pain and infertility. Despite its prevalence, effective non-invasive diagnostic tools remain unavailable. MenSCs offer a promising, non-invasive diagnostic tool due to their accessibility and their molecular and cellular alterations associated with EM. A total of nine studies involving 147 participants were included. The analysis demonstrated that MenSCs from women with endometriosis exhibit distinct molecular and functional alterations compared to controls. These include dysregulated expression of stemness-related genes (SOX2, SALL4, OCT4, NANOG), increased expression of proinflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, NF-κB), altered apoptosis-related signaling (decreased BAX/BCL-2 ratio), and upregulation of genes associated with migration, invasion, and angiogenesis (MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, β-catenin). Additionally, epigenetic changes, including altered miRNA profiles and reduced DROSHA expression, were identified. MenSCs from women with endometriosis demonstrate increased proliferative, clonogenic, and invasive capacity, along with morphological differences characterized by a more rounded phenotype. These findings suggest that MenSCs contribute to the development and persistence of endometriotic lesions through mechanisms involving inflammation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and resistance to apoptosis. To sum up, MenSCs represent a promising non-invasive source for biomarker discovery and a potential target for therapeutic intervention. However, further large-scale, standardized studies are required to validate their clinical applicability.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

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