Bacterial infection linked to endometriosis
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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.
Fact-checked by:
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
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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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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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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
New title: Fusobacterium Infection: A New Pathogenic Insight into Endometriosis and Microbiome-Targeted Therapy Potential
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-5247(23)00221-5
What Was Studied?
This translational study investigated the role of Fusobacterium infection in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Researchers sought to determine whether bacterial infection, specifically by Fusobacterium nucleatum, contributes to inflammatory alterations in endometrial fibroblasts, potentially leading to the development of endometriosis. The study encompassed molecular analyses, in vitro experiments, and a mouse model to establish causality and mechanism.
Who Was Studied?
The study analyzed uterine tissue samples from 79 patients in two Japanese hospitals, divided into cases with endometriosis and controls without the condition. Further, a mouse model was used to test the infectivity and pathogenic potential of Fusobacterium nucleatum compared to other microbes.
What Were the Most Important Findings?
Fusobacterium nucleatum was found to be significantly more prevalent in the endometrial and endometriotic tissues of patients with endometriosis (64.3%) compared to controls (7.1%), while Erysipelothrix, another potential candidate, was not abundant. Fusobacterium infection was shown to upregulate transgelin (TAGLN) expression in fibroblasts, enhancing their motility, adhesion, and migration through the activation of TGF-β signaling, a pathway known to be critical in the progression of endometriosis. In an animal model, mice inoculated with Fusobacterium-infected uterine tissue developed endometriotic lesions, whereas treatment of donor mice with antibiotics (metronidazole and chloramphenicol) significantly reduced lesion formation in recipient mice. These findings suggest that targeting Fusobacterium with antibiotics holds potential to mitigate the progression of endometriosis, underscoring the importance of further exploration into microbiome-targeted therapies.
What Are the Greatest Implications of This Study?
This research provides evidence that Fusobacterium infection may play a direct role in the etiology of endometriosis. The identification of a bacterial trigger opens avenues for antibiotic-based interventions and highlights the need for clinical trials targeting endometrial infections. Additionally, it underscores the importance of microbial profiling in endometriosis diagnosis and management, potentially redefining treatment paradigms to include microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs).
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.
Microbiome-Targeted Interventions (MBTIs)
Microbiome Targeted Interventions (MBTIs) are cutting-edge treatments that utilize information from Microbiome Signatures to modulate the microbiome, revolutionizing medicine with unparalleled precision and impact.