Cell Adhesion Molecules and Endometriosis

Craig A Witz
Seminars in reproductive medicine · 2003 · vol. 21(2) , pp. 173–182 · doi:10.1055/s-2003-41324 · PMID:12917787 · W148731840
review OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 54 in-corpus citations
View on OpenAlex View on PubMed View at publisher
⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This paper reviews how cell adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix components are altered in endometriosis, facilitating endometrial cell binding to peritoneal tissues and lesion maintenance.

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

⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This paper reviews how cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and extracellular matrix components may contribute to endometriosis pathogenesis by mediating interactions between eutopic/ectopic endometrial tissue and peritoneum. It synthesizes evidence that altered CAM expression in both endometrium and peritoneal tissues could facilitate attachment of reflux menstruated cells at ectopic sites, and that CAM expression by endometriotic lesions may help maintain ectopic tissue. The authors note that understanding these mechanisms could inform strategies to prevent implant formation and treat existing lesions, but the review does not resolve the poorly defined pathogenesis or establish definitive causality. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — specifically linking cell adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix interactions to how endometrial tissue attaches to and persists in the peritoneum.

Read from the paper's body, not the abstract. Not a substitute for reading the paper. No clinical advice. How this works

Abstract

The pathogenesis of endometriosis remains poorly defined. The interaction of endometrium with peritoneum is an important aspect of the disease process. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are transmembrane receptors that facilitate intercellular binding and cellular interaction with the extracellular matrix (ECM). CAMs and components of the ECM are divided into large families based on sequence homology and similarity of tertiary structures. The function of eutopic and ectopic endometrial CAMs has been a focus of recent studies concerning the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Specific alterations in endometrial and peritoneal CAMs could facilitate binding of reflux menstruated endometrium at ectopic sites. In addition, the expression of CAMs by endometriotic lesions has been investigated to help understand mechanisms involved in the maintenance of endometrial tissue in ectopic locations. An understanding of the mechanisms involved in the interaction of endometrium with peritoneal tissues may provide new strategies to prevent endometriotic implants from forming and help treat existing lesions.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Cell Adhesion Molecules Endometriosis Cell Adhesion Molecules Endometriosis Extracellular Matrix Extracellular Matrix Extracellular Matrix Proteins Extracellular Matrix Proteins Female Humans Peritoneum Peritoneum

Citation neighborhood

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. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

Cited by (50)

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-06-13T06:22:48.782012+00:00
openalex
last seen: 2026-06-10T17:14:06.276822+00:00
pubmed
last seen: 2026-05-13T22:12:50.257867+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK