Ecto-nucleotidases Activities in the Contents of Ovarian Endometriomas: Potential Biomarkers of Endometriosis

Laura Texidó, Claudia Romero, August Vidal, José García‐Valero, José García-Valero, Maria-Eulalia Fernández-Montolí, M Eulalia Fernández Montoli, Núria Baixeras, Enric Condom, Jordi Ponce, Amparo García‐Tejedor, Amparo García-Tejedor, Mireia Martín-Satué, Mireia Martín‐Satué
Mediators of inflammation · 2014 · vol. 2014 , pp. 1–8 · doi:10.1155/2014/120673 · PMID:25276049 · PMC4168241 · W2126123715
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This study found significantly higher ecto-nucleotidase activities in ovarian endometrioma contents compared to simple cysts, suggesting their potential as endometriosis biomarkers.

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Abstract

Endometriosis, defined as the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, is a common gynecologic condition affecting millions of women worldwide. It is an inflammatory, estrogen-dependent complex disorder, with broad symptomatic variability, pelvic pain, and infertility being the main characteristics. Ovarian endometriomas are frequently developed in women with endometriosis. Late diagnosis is one of the main problems of endometriosis; thus, it is important to identify biomarkers for early diagnosis. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the ecto-nucleotidases activities in the contents of endometriomas. These enzymes, through the regulation of extracellular ATP and adenosine levels, are key enzymes in inflammatory processes, and their expression has been previously characterized in human endometrium. To achieve our objective, the echo-guided aspirated fluids of endometriomas were analyzed by evaluating the ecto-nucleotidases activities and compared with simple cysts. Our results show that enzyme activities are quantifiable in the ovarian cysts aspirates and that endometriomas show significantly higher ecto-nucleotidases activities than simple cysts (5.5-fold increase for ATPase and 20-fold for ADPase), thus being possible candidates for new endometriosis biomarkers. Moreover, we demonstrate the presence of ecto-nucleotidases bearing exosomes in these fluids. These results add up to the knowledge of the physiopathologic mechanisms underlying endometriosis and, open up a promising new field of study.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Adenosine Triphosphatases Biomarkers Endometriosis Adenosine Triphosphatases Adenosine Triphosphate Adenosine Triphosphate Adult Biomarkers Endometriosis Female Humans Microscopy, Electron Middle Aged Ovarian Cysts Ovarian Cysts Young Adult

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