Regenerating the Womb: The Good, Bad and Ugly Potential of the Endometrial Stem Cells

Flaminia Bardanzellu, Gavino Faa, Daniela Fanni, Vassilios Fanos, Maria Antonietta Marcialis
In: Current Regenerative Medicine · 2018 · vol. 7(1) , pp. 33–45 · doi:10.2174/2468424408666180705125036 · W2922196257
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⚙ AI-generated summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite, 2026-06-09 ⓘ

Endometrial stem cells are crucial for uterine regeneration and repair, but their dysregulation may contribute to diseases like endometriosis and leiomyomas.

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This review article examines the dual nature of endometrial stem cells, highlighting their essential role in the dynamic regeneration and repair of the human endometrium during pregnancy and the menstrual cycle. While these undifferentiated cells offer significant therapeutic potential for regenerative medicine, the authors note that their irregular function can contribute to the pathogenesis of various disorders. Specifically, the paper identifies that these cells are found in malignant tumors and leiomyomas, where they may be involved in disease development alongside their protective mechanisms. Relevance to endometriosis: explicitly discussed as a condition whose pathogenesis may involve the irregular function of endometrial stem cells.

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Abstract

The human endometrium is a very dynamic tissue undergoing an extraordinary growth during pregnancy and, in a cyclic manner, during the reproductive life of each woman. Endometrial stem cells (ESCs), undifferentiated auto-renewable cells able to generate daughter cells showing a higher level of differentiation, play a fundamental role in endometrial regeneration and repair. Therefore, they have a great therapeutic potential in many diseases and research fields. However, recent data suggest that an irregular function of ESCs can contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis and other disorders. In addition, ESCs have also been found in human leiomyomas and malignant tumours, and could be involved in their development. In this review we analyze the enormous regenerative potential of endometrium, which is, unfortunately, not exempted from its negative effects. This coexists with the good one as two faces of the same coin and constitutes the risk behind the fundamental protective and regenerative mechanisms to defend reproduction, and therefore the miracle of life itself. Keywords: Endometrial cancer, endometrial stem cells, endometriosis, endometrium, leiomyomas, menstrual blood-derived stem cells, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering.
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Keywords

Endometrial cancer, endometrial stem cells, endometriosis, endometrium, leiomyomas, menstrual blood-derived stem cells, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering.

Abstract

The human endometrium is a very dynamic tissue undergoing an extraordinary growth during pregnancy and, in a cyclic manner, during the reproductive life of each woman. Endometrial stem cells (ESCs), undifferentiated auto-renewable cells able to generate daughter cells showing a higher level of differentiation, play a fundamental role in endometrial regeneration and repair. Therefore, they have a great therapeutic potential in many diseases and research fields. However, recent data suggest that an irregular function of ESCs can contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis and other disorders. In addition, ESCs have also been found in human leiomyomas and malignant tumours, and could be involved in their development. In this review we analyze the enormous regenerative potential of endometrium, which is, unfortunately, not exempted from its negative effects. This coexists with the good one as two faces of the same coin and constitutes the risk behind the fundamental protective and regenerative mechanisms to defend reproduction, and therefore the miracle of life itself.

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