Dysregulation of X-ray repair cross-complementing 4 expression in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.

Recent data suggest that the DNA damage response (DDR) is altered in the eutopic endometrium (EE) of women with endometriosis and this probably ensues in response to higher DNA damage encountered by the EE in endometriosis. DDR operates in a tissue-specific manner and involves different pathways depending on the type of DNA lesions. Among these pathways, the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway plays a critical role in the repair of dsDNA breaks.

Endometrial DNA damage response is modulated in endometriosis.

Study Question: Is the DNA damage response (DDR) dysregulated in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis?

Summary Answer: Endometrial expression of genes involved in DDR is modulated in women with endometriosis, compared to those without the disease.

What Is Known Already: Ectopic endometriotic lesions are reported to harbour somatic mutations, thereby hinting at dysregulation of DDR and DNA repair pathways. However, it remains inconclusive whether the eutopic endometrium also manifests dysregulated DDR in endometriosis.