The endometrial stem cell markers notch-1 and numb are associated with endometriosis. 

Stem cell markers as therapeutic targets for endometriosis?

Key Points

Highlight:

• Stem cell markers notch-1 and numb of the eutopic endometrium are associated with endometriosis and its clinical presentations, supporting the stem cell hypothesis of endometriosis. These findings could help develop promising research strategies applying endometrial stem cells as novel tools.

Aim:

• Evaluated the possible role of notch-1 and numb in eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis compared with healthy controls.

Key points:

• Stem cells have been candidates of interest in endometriosis research because of their high proliferation potential and their ability to differentiate into multiple lineages, contributing to characteristic traits of endometriosis.
• Previous studies reported an increased expression of the notch pathway-associated protein Musashi-1 in endometriosis.
• Given the emerging role of endometrial stem cells in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, this study evaluated the possible role of notch-1 and numb in eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis compared with healthy controls.

What’s done here:

• All subjects underwent transcervical endometrial biopsy and diagnostic laparoscopy (51 endometriosis patients and 76 controls).
• Numb expression in the luminal epithelium was significantly higher in eutopic endometrium of endometriosis patients compared with controls.
• Notch-1 expression in endometrial glands was significantly higher in patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis compared with controls.

Limitations:

• Due to the partial phenotypic overlap in endometriosis subgroups, further studies are warranted to confirm these promising finding.
• Other lesions that may express these markers should also be considered.

Lay Summary

The pathological mechanisms of endometriosis are still poorly understood. However, stem cells have been candidates of interest because of their high proliferation potential and their ability to differentiate into multiple lineages, contributing to characteristic traits of endometriosis. Also, previous studies reported increased expression of the notch pathway-associated protein Musashi-1 in endometriosis. Given the emerging role of endometrial stem cells in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, Dr. Götte group from the University Hospital of Münster in Germany evaluated the possible role of notch-1 and numb in eutopicendometrium of patients with endometriosis compared with healthy controls. 

All subjects (51 endometriosis patients and 76 controls) underwent transcervical endometrial biopsy and diagnostic laparoscopy. Association of stem-cell-marker, notch-1 and numb, expression with the presence of endometriosis was evaluated. Numb expression in the luminal epithelium was significantly higher in eutopic endometrium of endometriosis patients compared with controls. Notch-1 expression in endometrial glands was significantly higher in patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis compared with controls.

From this result, Dr. Götte group concluded that stem cell markers notch-1 and numb of the eutopic endometrium are associated with endometriosis and its clinical presentations, supporting the stem cell hypothesis of endometriosis. These findings could help develop promising research strategies applying endometrial stem cells as novel tools.

Research Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29398419