Capitol News

Roughly 200 million women worldwide suffer from endometriosis, a condition where tissue from the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. This condition causes pain and contributes to infertility and is as common as Type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and migraines in the U.S. Despite this, there is a lack of awareness, leading to misunderstandings between patients and healthcare providers.

New research led by Michigan State University (MSU) researchers indicates progress towards developing non-hormonal therapies for endometriosis, potentially reducing the diagnostic period of seven to ten years faced by many patients. This research received funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Endometriosis Foundation of America.

According to Asgerally Fazleabas, University Distinguished Professor and associate chair of research in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, "Endometriosis is an understudied disease." Fazleabas noted that unless a physician is knowledgeable about endometriosis, it could be mistaken for gastrointestinal issues or inflammatory bowel disease.

Endometriosis typically begins during adolescence when girls start menstruating, sometimes as early as eight years old. Many of these girls experience severe pelvic pain during their periods, impacting their daily lives. Fazleabas mentioned, “The only way to conclusively diagnose endometriosis is to have a laparoscopy and most physicians are reluctant to perform a surgical procedure on a young girl.”

A study led by Fazleabas provides a baseline for understanding the interaction between immune system macrophage cells and cells in endometriosis lesions. Published in iScience, this research could pave the way for non-hormonal treatments for endometriosis.

Fazleabas explained, “What we were able to show is that the epithelium — a layer of cells within an endometriosis lesion — is able to selectively communicate with the macrophages and alter their function within the immune system.” He highlighted that macrophages usually detect and remove harmful substances, control inflammation, and aid in tissue repair, but within lesions, they tend to promote tissue repair. "Instead of taking out the trash, so to speak, they are making the problem worse," he said.

Fazleabas concluded, "What we've shown in this paper is that the epithelial cells can communicate with the macrophages," suggesting that this cross talk could promote the disease's development. The study provides a foundation for further research into better therapies for endometriosis.