title: DNA methylation in endometriosis (Review).
abstract: Endometriosis is defined by the presence and growth of functional endometrial tissue, outside the uterine cavity, primarily in the ovaries, pelvic peritoneum and rectovaginal septum. Although it is a benign disease, it presents with malignant characteristics, such as invasion to surrounding tissues, metastasis to distant locations and recurrence following treatment. Accumulating evidence suggests that various epigenetic aberrations may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Aberrant DNA methylation represents a possible mechanism repsonsible for this disease, linking gene expression alterations observed in endometriosis with hormonal and environmental factors. Several lines of evidence indicate that endometriosis may partially be due to selective epigenetic deregulations influenced by extrinsic factors. Previous studies have shed light into the epigenetic component of endometriosis, reporting variations in the epigenetic patterns of genes known to be involved in the aberrant hormonal, immunologic and inflammatory status of endometriosis. Although recent studies, utilizing advanced molecular techniques, have allowed us to further elucidate the possible association of DNA methylation with altered gene expression, whether these molecular changes represent the cause or merely the consequence of the disease is a question which remains to be answered. This review provides an overview of the current literature on the role of DNA methylation in the pathophysiology and malignant evolution of endometriosis. We also provide insight into the mechanisms through which DNA methylation-modifying agents may be the next step in the research of the pharmaceutical treatment of endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa 41500, Greece.
authors.forename: Ourania
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Koukoura
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion 71003, Greece.
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sifakis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Virology, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion 71409, Greece.
authors.forename: Demetrios A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spandidos
mesh_terms: D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D000080905:Homeobox A10 Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000080905:Homeobox A10 Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; C069634:HOXA10 protein, human; D001141:Aromatase; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases