Fibromuscular differentiation in deeply infiltrating endometriosis is a reaction of resident fibroblasts to the presence of ectopic endometrium.
Hum Reprod
; 23(12): 2692-700, 2008 Dec.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18716038
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
In this study, we characterized the fibromuscular (FM) tissue, typical of deeply infiltrating endometriosis, investigated which cells are responsible for the FM reaction and evaluated whether transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling is involved in this process.METHODS:
FM differentiation and TGF-beta signaling were assessed in deeply infiltrating endometriosis lesions (n = 20) and a nude mouse model of endometriosis 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks post-transplantation. The FM reaction was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using different markers of FM and smooth muscle cell differentiation (vimentin, desmin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain). TGF-beta signaling was assessed by immunostaining for its receptors and phosphorylated Smad.RESULTS:
Deeply infiltrating endometriosis lesions contain myofibroblast-like cells that express multiple markers of FM differentiation. Expression of TGF-beta receptors and phospho-Smad was more pronounced in the endometrial component of the lesions than in the FM component. In the nude mouse model, alpha-smooth muscle actin expression was observed in murine fibroblasts surrounding the lesion, but not in human endometrial stroma.CONCLUSIONS:
FM differentiation in deeply infiltrating endometriosis is the result of a reaction of the local environment to the presence of ectopic endometrium. It shares characteristics with pathological wound healing, but cannot be explained by TGF-beta signaling alone.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Endometriosis
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
Language:
En
Year:
2008
Type:
Article