Epigenetics of Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors in Endometriosis.

Abstract

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory gynecological disease. Increased estrogen activity and progesterone resistance are the main hormonal substrate of this disease and are associated with inflammatory response and debilitating symptoms, including pain and infertility. Estrogens and progesterone act via their specific nuclear receptors. The regulation of receptor expression by epigenetics maybe a critical factor for endometriosis. The present review aims to discuss the epigenetic mechanisms related to the expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) and progesterone receptors (PRs) in patients with endometriosis, including two classic epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation and histone modification, and, other non-classic mechanisms: miRNAs and lncRNA. Several in vitro and in vivo studies support the key role of epigenetics in the regulation of the expression of ERs and PRs, which may provide new molecules and targets for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.

• Authors: Huixi Chen, Francesca Malentacchi, Massimiliano Fambrini, Abdel Halim Harrath, Hefeng Huang, Felice Petraglia
• Journal: Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) (Reprod Sci) Vol. 27 Issue 11 Pg. 1967-1974 (11 2020) ISSN: 1933-7205 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32700282 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• MicroRNAs
• RNA, Long Noncoding
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Receptors, Progesterone

Topics

• DNA Methylation
• Endometriosis (genetics)
• Epigenesis, Genetic
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Humans
• MicroRNAs (genetics)
• RNA, Long Noncoding (genetics)
• Receptors, Estrogen (genetics)
• Receptors, Progesterone (genetics)