GATA6 expression promoted by an active enhancer may become a molecular marker in endometriosis lesions.

Problem: Genome-wide profiling of DNA methylation in endometriotic cells has shown a distinct facet of epigenetic backgrounds; however, specific DNA methylation sites responsible for aberrant gene expression in endometriosis were unknown. Are there specific endometriosis-associated DNA methylations that can be used as molecular markers in endometriosis lesions?

Method Of Study: This study used endometriotic tissues from the chocolate cyst lining of the ovaries of patients with endometriosis, and endometrial tissues from disease-free patients. For analysis, stromal cells were collected from endometrial and endometriotic tissues.

Lipopolysaccharide promotes the development of murine endometriosis-like lesions via the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway.

Problem: Is lipopolysaccharide (LPS) involved in the development of endometriosis?

Method Of Study: BALB/c mice (n=69) were used for the murine endometriosis model. Mice with surgically induced endometriosis were injected with LPS intraperitoneally. After 4 weeks of LPS injections with or without the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) inhibitor, the extent of endometriosis-like lesions was evaluated.

Molecular Background of Estrogen Receptor Gene Expression in Endometriotic Cells.

The molecular background of estrogen receptor (ER) expression is important to understand the pathophysiology of the high estrogen environment in endometriosis. However, the molecular details have not been fully understood. The objective of this study is to evaluate the molecular background of ERα and ERβ messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in endometriotic cells.

The cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2 is a possible target of novel treatment for endometriosis.

Problem: How is the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α-induced inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein expression in endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs) involved in cell viability and signaling pathways?

Method Of Study: Endometriotic stromal cells were isolated from ovarian chocolate cysts in 20 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery. IAP protein expression and IκB phosphorylation were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Interleukin (IL)-8 protein expression and cell proliferation were assessed by ELISA.

Epigenetic aberration of gene expression in endometriosis.

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease. In endometriotic tissues, a high-estrogen environment associated with up-regulation of the aromatase gene has been well documented. There is accumulating evidence supporting a concept that endometriosis is a disease associated with an epigenetic disorder.

Apoptosis and endometriosis.

Apoptosis is a distinctive form of programmed cell death resulting in the efficient elimination of cells without eliciting an inflammatory response. Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial cells with capacity to avoid apoptosis outside the uterus. Apoptosis plays a fundamental role for the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Demethylation of a nonpromoter cytosine-phosphate-guanine island in the aromatase gene may cause the aberrant up-regulation in endometriotic tissues.

Objective: To search for the demethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) islands within the aromatase gene in stromal cells derived from endometriotic chocolate cysts.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Biosignaling, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan.

The role of survivin in the resistance of endometriotic stromal cells to drug-induced apoptosis.

Background: Decreased susceptibility of endometrial tissue to apoptosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We investigate the role of survivin in the pathophysiology of endometriosis through the ability of ectopic and eutopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) to resist apoptosis.

Methods: Ectopic ESCs were obtained from ovarian chocolate cysts in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery (n = 22).

Cytochrome P450 aromatase gene (CYP19) expression in gastric cancer.

Background: The secretion of biologically active estrogen through the conversion of circulating precursor androgens has been suggested to play important roles in the pathophysiology of estrogen-dependent carcinomas. In the present study, we examined aromatase expression in gastric carcinoma.

Methods: Nineteen specimens of gastric carcinoma were obtained from Japanese patients at the Department of Surgery, Tottori University Hospital, Japan.

An epigenetic disorder may cause aberrant expression of aromatase gene in endometriotic stromal cells.

Objective: To examine the molecular basis of aromatase expression in stromal cell culture from endometriotic chocolate cysts.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Biosignaling, Tottori University, Yonago Japan.

Apoptosis and endometriosis.

Apoptosis plays a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and represents a normal function to eliminate excess or dysfunctional cells. Accumulated evidence suggest that apoptosis helps to maintain cellular homeostasis during the menstrual cycle by eliminating senescent cells from the functional layer of the uterine endometrium during the late secretory and menstrual phase of the cycle. BCL-2 family and Fas/FasL system have been extensively studied in human endometrium and endometriotic tissues.

Anaphylactic shock caused by exposure to sea anemones.

Background: Since the first report of a dog that developed severe systemic symptoms in response to a second injection of sea anemone toxin by Richet and Portier in 1902, no clear human cases of anaphylaxis related to exposure to sea anemones has been reported in the literature.

Methods: A 24-year-old man with an episode of local urticaria on his first contact with a sea anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni), developed dyspnea, severe urticaria and hypotension on exposure to water containing the dead bodies of the organism. To study whether this reaction was mediated by antigen-specific IgE, we performed a histamine release test with blood, Western blotting with serum and lymphocyte proliferating test with peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patient, for the homogenate of sea anemones.

Drug-induced apoptosis was markedly attenuated in endometriotic stromal cells.

Background: The survival of endometriotic cells in the ectopic site has been investigated from the aspect of susceptibility of endometriotic tissues to apoptosis. In order to investigate the nature of abnormal survival of endometriotic cells in ectopic locations, we compared drug-induced apoptosis in endometrial and endometriotic cells.

Methods: Endometrial stromal cells were obtained from normal endometrium in 11 patients who underwent hysterectomy for leiomyoma without endometriosis.

Reduction of estrogen production by interleukin-6 in a human granulosa tumor cell line may have implications for endometriosis-associated infertility.

Objective: To examine the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on estrogen production and aromatase activity using a human granulosa tumor cell line (KGN cells). The involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade in the inhibitory effects of IL-6 on estrogen production was also evaluated.

Design: Molecular and biological studies of KGN cells.