Environmental Dioxins and Endometriosis

Sherry E. Rier, Sherry Rier, Warren G Foster
Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology · 2002 · vol. 70(2) , pp. 161–170 · doi:10.1093/toxsci/70.2.161 · PMID:12441361 · W1973934367
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This review examines evidence that dioxins and dioxin-like compounds modulate immune and endocrine functions crucial to endometriosis pathobiology and discusses knowledge gaps and future research directions.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a common gynecologic problem of unknown etiology. Estrogen dependence and immune modulation are established features of this disease and recently environmental contaminants have been suggested to play a role in the pathobiology of endometriosis as well. Previous work in nonhuman primates has shown that exposure to the dioxin 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is associated with an increased prevalence and severity of endometriosis. Further animal experiments have implicated dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in this disease. Rodent studies support the plausibility for a role of environmental contaminants in the pathophysiology of endometriosis although a convincing mechanistic hypothesis has yet to be advanced. Small hospital-based case-control studies have failed to provide compelling evidence for or against an association of environmental contaminants and endometriosis. Herein we review the available literature that provides evidence that dioxin and dioxin-like compounds are potent modulators of immune and endocrine function critical to the pathobiology of endometriosis. Furthermore, perspectives on the potential mechanism(s) of dioxin and dioxin-like compound-induced toxicity in endometriosis, important knowledge needs, potential animal models for endometriosis studies, and considerations integral to future human case-control studies are discussed.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Dioxins Endometriosis Environmental Pollutants Animals Body Burden Dioxins Dioxins Disease Models, Animal Endometriosis Environmental Pollutants Environmental Pollutants Female Humans

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.

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Cited by (49)

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