Understanding the Impact of Uterine Fibroids on Human Endometrium Function
Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are the most common benign gynecological tumors in women of reproductive age worldwide. They cause heavy menstrual bleeding, usually leading to severe anemia, pelvic pain/pressure, infertility, and other debilitating morbidities. Fibroids are believed to be monoclonal t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.633180/full |
| _version_ | 1818594538448486400 |
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| author | Antonia Navarro Maria Victoria Bariani Qiwei Yang Ayman Al-Hendy |
| author_facet | Antonia Navarro Maria Victoria Bariani Qiwei Yang Ayman Al-Hendy |
| author_sort | Antonia Navarro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are the most common benign gynecological tumors in women of reproductive age worldwide. They cause heavy menstrual bleeding, usually leading to severe anemia, pelvic pain/pressure, infertility, and other debilitating morbidities. Fibroids are believed to be monoclonal tumors arising from the myometrium, and recent studies have demonstrated that fibroids actively influence the endometrium globally. Studies suggest a direct relationship between the number of fibroids removed and fertility problems. In this review, our objective was to provide a complete overview of the origin of uterine fibroids and the molecular pathways and processes implicated in their development and growth, which can directly affect the function of a healthy endometrium. One of the most common characteristics of fibroids is the excessive production of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, which contributes to the stiffness and expansion of fibroids. ECM may serve as a reservoir of profibrotic growth factors such as the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and a modulator of their availability and actions. Fibroids also elicit mechanotransduction changes that result in decreased uterine wall contractility and increased myometrium rigidity, which affect normal biological uterine functions such as menstrual bleeding, receptivity, and implantation. Changes in the microRNA (miRNA) expression in fibroids and myometrial cells appear to modulate the TGF-β pathways and the expression of regulators of ECM production. Taken together, these findings demonstrate an interaction among the ECM components, TGF-β family signaling, miRNAs, and the endometrial vascular system. Targeting these components will be fundamental to developing novel pharmacotherapies that not only treat uterine fibroids but also restore normal endometrial function. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T11:01:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d2727376a55b4e03a1bce3e0a91faa03 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-634X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T11:01:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d2727376a55b4e03a1bce3e0a91faa032022-12-21T22:33:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2021-05-01910.3389/fcell.2021.633180633180Understanding the Impact of Uterine Fibroids on Human Endometrium FunctionAntonia NavarroMaria Victoria BarianiQiwei YangAyman Al-HendyUterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are the most common benign gynecological tumors in women of reproductive age worldwide. They cause heavy menstrual bleeding, usually leading to severe anemia, pelvic pain/pressure, infertility, and other debilitating morbidities. Fibroids are believed to be monoclonal tumors arising from the myometrium, and recent studies have demonstrated that fibroids actively influence the endometrium globally. Studies suggest a direct relationship between the number of fibroids removed and fertility problems. In this review, our objective was to provide a complete overview of the origin of uterine fibroids and the molecular pathways and processes implicated in their development and growth, which can directly affect the function of a healthy endometrium. One of the most common characteristics of fibroids is the excessive production of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, which contributes to the stiffness and expansion of fibroids. ECM may serve as a reservoir of profibrotic growth factors such as the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and a modulator of their availability and actions. Fibroids also elicit mechanotransduction changes that result in decreased uterine wall contractility and increased myometrium rigidity, which affect normal biological uterine functions such as menstrual bleeding, receptivity, and implantation. Changes in the microRNA (miRNA) expression in fibroids and myometrial cells appear to modulate the TGF-β pathways and the expression of regulators of ECM production. Taken together, these findings demonstrate an interaction among the ECM components, TGF-β family signaling, miRNAs, and the endometrial vascular system. Targeting these components will be fundamental to developing novel pharmacotherapies that not only treat uterine fibroids but also restore normal endometrial function.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.633180/fulluterine fibroidsendometriumheavy menstrual bleedingendometrial receptivityimplantationsubfertility |
| spellingShingle | Antonia Navarro Maria Victoria Bariani Qiwei Yang Ayman Al-Hendy Understanding the Impact of Uterine Fibroids on Human Endometrium Function Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology uterine fibroids endometrium heavy menstrual bleeding endometrial receptivity implantation subfertility |
| title | Understanding the Impact of Uterine Fibroids on Human Endometrium Function |
| title_full | Understanding the Impact of Uterine Fibroids on Human Endometrium Function |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the Impact of Uterine Fibroids on Human Endometrium Function |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the Impact of Uterine Fibroids on Human Endometrium Function |
| title_short | Understanding the Impact of Uterine Fibroids on Human Endometrium Function |
| title_sort | understanding the impact of uterine fibroids on human endometrium function |
| topic | uterine fibroids endometrium heavy menstrual bleeding endometrial receptivity implantation subfertility |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.633180/full |
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