Endometriosis and the Fallopian Tubes: Theories of Origin and Clinical Implications
Endometriosis is a common, oestrogen driven chronic condition, where endometrium-like epithelial and stromal cells exist in ectopic sites. At present, no curative treatments are available and the existing evidence for disease progression is conflicting. The pathogenesis is still unknown and evidentl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/6/1905 |
| _version_ | 1797564884485931008 |
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| author | Christopher J. Hill Marwa Fakhreldin Alison Maclean Lucy Dobson Lewis Nancarrow Alice Bradfield Fiona Choi Diandra Daley Nicola Tempest Dharani K. Hapangama |
| author_facet | Christopher J. Hill Marwa Fakhreldin Alison Maclean Lucy Dobson Lewis Nancarrow Alice Bradfield Fiona Choi Diandra Daley Nicola Tempest Dharani K. Hapangama |
| author_sort | Christopher J. Hill |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Endometriosis is a common, oestrogen driven chronic condition, where endometrium-like epithelial and stromal cells exist in ectopic sites. At present, no curative treatments are available and the existing evidence for disease progression is conflicting. The pathogenesis is still unknown and evidently complex, as mechanisms of initiation may depend on the anatomical distribution of endometriotic lesions. However, amongst the numerous theories and plethora of mechanisms, contributions of the fallopian tubes (FT) to endometriosis are rarely discussed. The FT are implicated in all endometriosis associated symptomatology and clinical consequences; they may contribute to the origin of endometriotic tissue, determine the sites for ectopic lesion establishment and act as conduits for the spread of proinflammatory media. Here, we examine the available evidence for the contribution of the human FT to the origin, pathogenesis and symptoms/clinical consequences of endometriosis. We also examine the broader topic linking endometriosis and the FT epithelium to the genesis of ovarian epithelial cancers. Further studies elucidating the distinct functional and phenotypical characteristics of FT mucosa may allow the development of novel treatment strategies for endometriosis that are potentially curative. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:04:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6987ad4144fe42b6b0e2edf465231b54 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:04:11Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-6987ad4144fe42b6b0e2edf465231b542023-11-20T04:14:55ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832020-06-0196190510.3390/jcm9061905Endometriosis and the Fallopian Tubes: Theories of Origin and Clinical ImplicationsChristopher J. Hill0Marwa Fakhreldin1Alison Maclean2Lucy Dobson3Lewis Nancarrow4Alice Bradfield5Fiona Choi6Diandra Daley7Nicola Tempest8Dharani K. Hapangama9Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UKLiverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UKCentre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UKCentre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UKCentre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UKCentre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UKCentre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UKCentre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UKCentre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UKCentre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UKEndometriosis is a common, oestrogen driven chronic condition, where endometrium-like epithelial and stromal cells exist in ectopic sites. At present, no curative treatments are available and the existing evidence for disease progression is conflicting. The pathogenesis is still unknown and evidently complex, as mechanisms of initiation may depend on the anatomical distribution of endometriotic lesions. However, amongst the numerous theories and plethora of mechanisms, contributions of the fallopian tubes (FT) to endometriosis are rarely discussed. The FT are implicated in all endometriosis associated symptomatology and clinical consequences; they may contribute to the origin of endometriotic tissue, determine the sites for ectopic lesion establishment and act as conduits for the spread of proinflammatory media. Here, we examine the available evidence for the contribution of the human FT to the origin, pathogenesis and symptoms/clinical consequences of endometriosis. We also examine the broader topic linking endometriosis and the FT epithelium to the genesis of ovarian epithelial cancers. Further studies elucidating the distinct functional and phenotypical characteristics of FT mucosa may allow the development of novel treatment strategies for endometriosis that are potentially curative.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/6/1905endometriosisfallopian tubespathogenesisstem cellsovarian cancer |
| spellingShingle | Christopher J. Hill Marwa Fakhreldin Alison Maclean Lucy Dobson Lewis Nancarrow Alice Bradfield Fiona Choi Diandra Daley Nicola Tempest Dharani K. Hapangama Endometriosis and the Fallopian Tubes: Theories of Origin and Clinical Implications Journal of Clinical Medicine endometriosis fallopian tubes pathogenesis stem cells ovarian cancer |
| title | Endometriosis and the Fallopian Tubes: Theories of Origin and Clinical Implications |
| title_full | Endometriosis and the Fallopian Tubes: Theories of Origin and Clinical Implications |
| title_fullStr | Endometriosis and the Fallopian Tubes: Theories of Origin and Clinical Implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Endometriosis and the Fallopian Tubes: Theories of Origin and Clinical Implications |
| title_short | Endometriosis and the Fallopian Tubes: Theories of Origin and Clinical Implications |
| title_sort | endometriosis and the fallopian tubes theories of origin and clinical implications |
| topic | endometriosis fallopian tubes pathogenesis stem cells ovarian cancer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/6/1905 |
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