Effects of iron-related compounds and bilirubin on redox homeostasis in endometriosis and its malignant transformations

Hiroshi Shigetomi, Shogo Imanaka, Hiroshi Kobayashi
Hormone molecular biology and clinical investigation · 2021 · vol. 43(2) , pp. 187–192 · doi:10.1515/hmbci-2021-0065 · PMID:34854656 · W3215424058
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This study measured iron-related compounds and bilirubin in cyst fluid from patients with endometriosis and ovarian cancer, finding higher levels of iron and bilirubin in endometriosis, suggesting a role for iron-induced oxidative stress in endometriosis.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The balance between oxidative stress and antioxidant defense has been reported to differ between women with endometriosis and patients with its malignant transformation. The aim of this study is to investigate changes in redox balance in endometriosis and endometriosis-related ovarian cancer (EAOC) by simultaneously measuring iron-related compounds and bilirubin. METHODS: This study included 235 patients with a histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis (n=178) and EAOC (n=57). Cyst fluid samples were collected in Nara Medical University hospital from January 2013 to May 2019. The levels of iron-related compounds (total iron, heme iron, free iron, oxyhemoglobin [oxyHb], methemoglobin [metHb], and metHb/oxyHb ratio) and bilirubin were measured. RESULTS: Total iron, heme iron, free iron, metHb/oxyHb ratio, and bilirubin were significantly elevated in endometriosis compared to EAOC. In both endometriosis and EAOC, iron-related compounds in the cyst were correlated with each other. There was no statistically significant difference in oxyHb and metHb levels between the two groups, but the metHb/oxyHb ratio was significantly higher in endometriosis than in EAOC. Bilirubin was positively correlated with total iron and free iron in EAOC, but there was no correlation between bilirubin and iron-related compounds in endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: Iron-induced oxidative stress in endometriosis may exceed bilirubin-dependent antioxidant capability, while redox homeostasis in EAOC can be maintained by at least bilirubin.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Ovarian Neoplasms Ovarian Neoplasms Antioxidants Bilirubin Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial Female Heme Homeostasis Humans Iron Oxidation-Reduction

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