Vanderbilt University is partnered with the Endometriosis Association for research in endometriosis. Here are some findings from that research so far:
"KEY FINDINGS FROM VANDERBILT ENDOMETRIOSIS ASSOCIATION RESEARCH
•Studies on the action of progesterone which have shown the critical role of this hormone in the development of endometriosis
•Discovered that dioxin exposure leads to this alteration in progesterone function
•Showed that just one exposure to dioxin during pregnancy led to damage for five generations-whether exposure was paternal or maternal
•Demonstrated that exposure during pregnancy can lead to pre-term birth
•Showed that dioxin exposure leads to damage to the immune system
•Demonstrated that nutritional anti-inflammatory agents such as fish oil can provide some protection against the disruptive impact of dioxin
•Developed a unique model of surgical adhesions that allows the role of inflammation to be examined during the earliest stages of endometriosis-mediated adhesions development" from http://www.endometriosisassn.org
"KEY FINDINGS FROM VANDERBILT ENDOMETRIOSIS ASSOCIATION RESEARCH
"We have recently demonstrated adult endometrial dysfunction in mice following exposure to TCDD (dioxin). Endometrial changes were markedly similar to alterations observed in the endometrium of women with endometriosis, and it resulted in reduced progesterone responsiveness and infertility..."
For More Information, See: http://www.endometriosisassn.org/pdfs/vanderbilt.pdf
•Studies on the action of progesterone which have shown the critical role of this hormone in the development of endometriosis
•Discovered that dioxin exposure leads to this alteration in progesterone function
•Showed that just one exposure to dioxin during pregnancy led to damage for five generations-whether exposure was paternal or maternal
•Demonstrated that exposure during pregnancy can lead to pre-term birth
•Showed that dioxin exposure leads to damage to the immune system
•Demonstrated that nutritional anti-inflammatory agents such as fish oil can provide some protection against the disruptive impact of dioxin
•Developed a unique model of surgical adhesions that allows the role of inflammation to be examined during the earliest stages of endometriosis-mediated adhesions development" from http://www.endometriosisassn.org
"KEY FINDINGS FROM VANDERBILT ENDOMETRIOSIS ASSOCIATION RESEARCH
- Demonstrated a critical role of retinoic acid, the bioactive form of Vitamin A, in controlling normal endometrial expression of matrix degrading enzymes
- Found that a loss of progesterone sensitivity is a central component of the pathophysiology of endometriosis
- Identified that in utero and developmental dioxin exposure in mice creates the same endometrial phenotype observed in women with endometriosis
- Discovered an epigenetic link between dioxin action and the loss of progesterone response observed in women with endometriosis
- Presented evidence that dioxin exposure leads to an altered path-way of cell-cell communication in the endometrium that mimics an inflammatory like event
- Discovered developmental exposure of mice to dioxin leads to disruption of endometrial function for multiple generations, suggesting this toxicant can impact endometrial biology thru the germline
- Demonstrated that nutritional anti-inflammatory agents such as fish oil can provide some protection against the disruptive impact of dioxin on endometrial function
- Developed a novel model system in which the role of immune cells can be examined in the development, progression, and therapeutic treatment of endometriosis
- Developed a unique model of surgical adhesion that allows the role of inflammation to be examined during the earliest stages of endometriosis-mediated adhesion development
- In collaboration with multiple pharmaceutical companies and other NIH -funded investigators, continue to screen new compounds for potential use as therapeutics for women with endometriosis"
"We have recently demonstrated adult endometrial dysfunction in mice following exposure to TCDD (dioxin). Endometrial changes were markedly similar to alterations observed in the endometrium of women with endometriosis, and it resulted in reduced progesterone responsiveness and infertility..."
For More Information, See: http://www.endometriosisassn.org/pdfs/vanderbilt.pdf