The prospects of cell therapy for endometriosis

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2023 May;40(5):955-967. doi: 10.1007/s10815-023-02772-5.

Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory estrogen-dependent disease characterized by the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the physiological region. Despite the fact that this disease is common, laparoscopic surgery is currently the gold standard in the treatment of endometriosis. In this regard, it is necessary to develop new effective methods of minimally invasive therapy for endometriosis. One of the promising areas in the treatment of endometriosis is cell therapy. Cellular therapy is a vast branch of therapeutic methods with various agents. Potential cell therapies for endometriosis may be based on the principle of targeting aspects of the pathogenesis of the disease: suppression of estrogen receptor activity, angiogenesis, fibrosis, and a decrease in the content of stem cells in endometriosis foci. In addition, immune cells such as NK cells and macrophages may be promising agents for cell therapy of endometriosis. Standing apart in the methods of cell therapy is the replacement therapy of endometriosis. Thus, many studies in the field of the pathogenesis of endometriosis can shed light not only on the causes of the disease and may contribute to the development of new methods for personalized cell therapy of endometriosis.

Keywords: Cell therapy; Endometriosis; Fibrosis; Macrophages; Pathogenesis of endometriosis; Replacement therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
  • Endometriosis* / drug therapy
  • Endometriosis* / therapy
  • Endometrium / pathology
  • Estrogens / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural

Substances

  • Estrogens