�Scientists at the University of Liverpool have identified an enzyme that could be creditworthy for a condition called endometriosis -- the most common cause of pelvic pain in women
Endometriosis is a condition whereby patches of the inner liner of the womb appear in parts of the body other than the womb bodily cavity. It can buoy cause terrible pain and affects or so 15% of women of reproductive old age. Endometriosis is also associated with infertility, with 50% of sterile women affected by the condition.
Researchers discovered that an enzyme, called telomerase, is released by cells in the inner lining of the womb during the latter stages of the catamenial cycle in women wHO are affected by endometriosis. Telomerase is not ordinarily found in the cells that make up the body, but is uniquely found in the inner lining of the uterus and in some particular cells, such as spermatozoan and eggs cells. The enzyme is also establish in genus Cancer cells and is thought to be responsible for replicating DNA sequences during cell division in chromosomes.
Dr Dharani Hapangama, from the University's Department of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, explains: "Endometriosis occurs when cells of the inner lining of the uterus are found growing outside of the uterus. At the time of a woman's catamenia cycle these cells, called endometrial cells, are slough and lavatory be expelled into the abdominal cavity. If these cells proceed to alive and are implanted in the pelvic girdle and abdomen it lav cause grievous pain and in serious cases can buoy lead to infertility.
"We found the telomere - a region at the end of all chromosomes that prevents the chromosome destroying itself during prison cell division - is abnormally long in women with endometriosis. During menstruation telomeres normally foreshorten in length with each cycle of cell division until they reach a certain length at which they tin can no yearner divide. An enzyme called telomerase can extend the length of the telomeres so that they tail continue to divide and this can happen in some limited cells such as sperm cell and eggs cells, merely not ordinarily in cells that make up the organs of the body.
"Our research shows, however, that cells in the lining of the uterus are unique in that they toilet express this enzyme in the early stages of the catamenial cycle when cell naval division is important, but non during the latter stages when nidation of the fertilised embryo becomes a priority.
"Women who have endometriosis verbalise this enzyme in both the early and previous stages of the menstrual cycle which means that the cells will go on to divide and lose their 'focus' in supporting the establishment of a pregnancy. As a result the lining of the womb crataegus oxycantha be more hostile to an early pregnancy, and the cells that are shed at this late stage in the catamenial cycle may be more than 'aggressive' and more able to outlive and implant outside the uterus, causation pain in the pelvic or abdominal cavity area."
The research, promulgated in Human Reproduction, testament help scientists develop new techniques for diagnosing and treating the condition.
University of Liverpool
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