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Role of Stem Cells in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis

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Endometriosis

Abstract

Endometriosis can be defined as a benign estrogen-dependent disorder in which endometrium-like tissues reside outside of the uterine cavity. Studies now indicate that multiple genetic and epigenetic changes (reminiscent of neoplastic processes) are involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. Given the molecular similarities between endometriosis and cancer, it is reasonable to apply the “cancer stem cell model” concept to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In this article, I review and discuss “the stem cell model for endometriosis” in which endometriosis originates from endometrial stem/progenitor cells within eutopic and ectopic sites.

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Acknowledgements

I thank Hirotaka Masuda, Masanori Ono, Kaoru Miyazaki, Takashi Kajitani, Hiroshi Uchida, and the other members of my research group for their generous assistance and discussion and Hideyuki Okano and Yumi Matsuzaki for their collaboration with the endometrial and endometriotic stem cell project. We acknowledge the secretarial assistance of Rika Shibata. This work was partly supported by Grant-in-Aid from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (to T.M and Y.Y.), Grant-in-Aid from Keio University Sakaguchi-Memorial Medical Science Fund (to T.M.), and Grant-in-Aid from the Japan Medical Association (to T.M.).

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  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan

    Tetsuo Maruyama

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Correspondence to Tetsuo Maruyama .

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  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Tottori, Japan

    Tasuku Harada

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Maruyama, T. (2014). Role of Stem Cells in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis. In: Harada, T. (eds) Endometriosis. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54421-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54421-0_4

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