Epigenetics of endometriosis

Title: New endometriosis prognosis study findings reported from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Date: October 1, 2009 Publication: Women’s Health Weekly
HighBeam Research

Fresh data on endometriosis are presented in the report ‘Epigenetics of endometriosis.’
According to recent research published in the journal Molecular Human Reproduction, “Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disorder with an enigmatic etiopathogenesis. Although it has been proposed that endometriosis is a hormonal disease, an autoimmune disease, a genetic disease, and a disease caused by exposure to environmental toxins, our understanding of its etiopathogenesis is still inadequate, as reflected by recent apparent setbacks in clinical trials on endometriosis.”

“In the last 5 years, evidence has emerged that endometriosis may be an epigenetic disease. In this article, the evidence in support of this hypothesis is reviewed, and its diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic implications discussed.

Publications, up to the end of June 2009, pertaining to epigenetic aberration in endometriosis were identified through PubMed. In addition, publications on related studies were also retrieved and reviewed. Epigenetics appears to be a common denominator for hormonal and immunological aberrations in endometriosis. Epigenetics also appears to have a better explanatory power than genetics.

There is accumulating evidence that various epigenetic aberrations exist in endometriosis. In vitro studies show that histone deacetylase inhibitors may be promising therapeutics for treating endometriosis,” wrote S.W Guo and colleagues, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (see also Endometriosis Prognosis).

The researchers concluded: “Several lines of evidence suggest that epigenetics plays a definite role in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis. As such, endometriosis is possibly treatable by rectifying epigenetic aberrations through pharmacological means. DNA methylation markers may also be useful for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. It is also possible that the delineation of the epigenetic changes accompanied by the genesis and progression of endometriosis could lead to interventions that reduce the risk of developing endometriosis.”

Guo and colleagues published their study in Molecular Human Reproduction (Epigenetics of endometriosis. Molecular Human Reproduction, 2009;15(10):587-607).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19651637

For additional information, contact S.W. Guo, Institute of Obstetric and Gynecologic Research and Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200001, China.

The publisher’s contact information for the journal Molecular Human Reproduction is: Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon St., Oxford OX2 6DP, England.

Keywords: People’s Republic of China, Shanghai, Endometriosis Prognosis, Adolescent Medicine, Autoimmune Disease, Autoimmune Disorder, Clinical Trial Research, Diagnostics, Endometriosis, Genetic Diseases, Genetics, Gynecologic Disorders, Gynecology, Immunology, Therapy, Treatment.
This article was prepared by Women’s Health Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Women’s Health Weekly via NewsRx.com.