Identification of distinct stool metabolites in women with endometriosis for non-invasive diagnosis and potential for microbiota-based therapies Original paper
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
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Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.
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Endometriosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.
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Karen Pendergrass
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Fact-checked by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What Was Studied?
The study examined the stool metabolome of women with endometriosis compared to healthy controls to identify microbiota-derived metabolites with diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Researchers employed metabolomics and microbiota profiling to investigate how altered gut microbiota and their metabolites, specifically 4-hydroxyindole (4HI), affect endometriosis development and progression.
Who Was Studied?
The study included stool samples from 18 women with clinically confirmed endometriosis and 31 healthy control women. The participants’ metabolomic and microbiota profiles were analyzed, followed by functional validation of key metabolites, such as 4HI, in murine and human xenograft models of endometriosis.
What Were the Most Important Findings?
The study identified a distinct stool metabolome in women with endometriosis, characterized by reduced levels of specific microbiota-derived metabolites, including 4HI. Reduced 4HI was linked to a decreased abundance of beneficial gut bacteria like Faecalibacterium and Lachnospiraceae. 4HI showed remarkable therapeutic potential, as it inhibited the initiation and progression of endometriotic lesions, reduced lesion size and volume, and alleviated inflammation and pain in murine models. Moreover, 4HI was effective in regressing well-developed lesions in pre-clinical models. The metabolic signature also highlighted overlap between endometriosis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), suggesting common inflammatory pathways and potential misdiagnosis risks.
What Are the Greatest Implications of This Study?
This research revolutionizes the understanding of endometriosis by identifying stool-based biomarkers, particularly 4HI, for non-invasive diagnosis. It highlights 4HI as a promising therapeutic metabolite capable of reducing inflammation and lesion development. These findings pave the way for microbiota-targeted therapies and emphasize the diagnostic overlap with IBD, offering potential for dual-disease screening. Integrating microbiota and metabolomic data offers a novel paradigm for managing endometriosis and related conditions.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.