“Cellular Atlas” could be a step against endometriosis

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2023 (HealthDay News) — There are few good treatment options for the millions of women facing severe pain caused by endometriosis, but researchers say a new “cellular atlas” could help.

A team from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles has developed a detailed molecular profile of endometriosis using data from 400,000 patient cells.

“Endometriosis has been an understudied disease, in part because limited cellular data have hindered the development of effective treatments. In this study, we applied a new technology called single-cell genomics, which allowed us to identify many different cell types. That contribute In disease,” study co-author Kate Lorenson commented in a medical center press release.

“Researchers around the world can now use this resource to study specific cell types in which they specialize, which we hope will lead to more efficient and effective diagnosis and treatment of patients with endometriosis,” said Lorenson, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology. .

“It's truly a game-changer,” he added.

After analyzing individual cells, the researchers were able to identify molecular differences between the main subtypes of endometriosis, including peritoneal disease and ovarian endometrioma, Lorenson said.

In endometriosis, cells in the lining of the uterus, or cells similar to them, grow in the wrong places, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes and abdominal cavity.

About 10% of women experience endometriosis, usually during their childbearing years. They may suffer from chronic pain, infertility, headaches, fatigue, and bowel and bladder dysfunction with few good treatment options.

Cedars-Sinai researchers collected cytogenetic data from 21 patients. Some patients had endometriosis and others were free of the disease.

The study authors said the findings could lead to better care for women with the disease.

“Identifying these cellular differences at this detailed level should allow us to better understand the origins, normal development and potential therapeutic targets for treatment. We are currently limited to hormonal therapy and surgical resection, with varying success and recurrence.” said co-author Dr. Matthew Seidhoff, vice chair of the Department of Gynecology.

Researchers are using the cell atlas in laboratory tests on mice.

The results were published online January 9 in the journal Nature Genetics.

more information

The World Health Organization provides more information about endometriosis.

Source: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, press release, January 9, 2023