Effects of pharmacological inhibition of hyaluronic acid synthesis on experimental endometriosis.

Background: Dysregulated hyaluronic acid (HA) metabolism has been shown to be implicated in several pathologies including endometriosis. 4-Methylumbelliferone (4MU) is an HA synthesis inhibitor with proven antitumour activity. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effect of 4MU on endometriosis development both in vivo and in vitro.

Resveratrol impairs cellular mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Research Question: Does resveratrol exert a potent inhibitory effect on the development of endometriosis by interfering with some pivotal processes?

Design: In-vitro cultures of primary endometriotic stromal cells, immortalized endometrial stromal (St-T1b) and endometriotic epithelial (12Z) cells were used to assess the effects of resveratrol on endometrial cell mechanisms. The effects of resveratrol on 12Z and St-T1b cell viability were assessed by MTT assay, apoptosis by FITC Annexin V assay and cleaved caspase-3 levels and cell migration by wound healing assay. The effect of resveratrol on the expression of genes related to cell migration, angiogenesis and cell stemness was evaluated by qRT-PCR.

The ellagic acid metabolites urolithin A and B differentially affect growth, adhesion, motility, and invasion of endometriotic cells in vitro.

Study Question: What are the effects of plant-derived antioxidant compounds urolithin A (UA) and B (UB) on the growth and pathogenetic properties of an in vitro endometriosis model?

Summary Answer: Both urolithins showed inhibitory effects on cell behavior related to the development of endometriosis by differentially affecting growth, adhesion, motility, and invasion of endometriotic cells in vitro.

What Is Known Already: Endometriosis is one of the most common benign gynecological diseases in women of reproductive age and is defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. As current pharmacological therapies are associated with side effects interfering with fertility, we aimed at finding alternative therapeutics using natural compounds that can be administered for prolonged periods with a favorable side effects profile.

Potential use of ellagic acid for endometriosis treatment: its effect on a human endometrial cell cycle, adhesion and migration.

Endometriosis is a common and challenging condition of reproductive-aged women that is defined as the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Despite its prevalence, there is still no effective therapeutics; so we aim to evaluate the ellagic acid (EA) effect on the most relevant aspects that are known to be altered in endometriosis. Endometrial primary cultures from women with and without endometriosis and endometrial cell lines were incubated with EA (50 and 100 μM) for 24 and 48 h.