Witz Craig A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MSC 7836, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
Semin Reprod Med. 2003 May;21(2):173-82. doi: 10.1055/s-2003-41324.
The pathogenesis of endometriosis remains poorly defined. The interaction of endometrium with peritoneum is an important aspect of the disease process. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are transmembrane receptors that facilitate intercellular binding and cellular interaction with the extracellular matrix (ECM). CAMs and components of the ECM are divided into large families based on sequence homology and similarity of tertiary structures. The function of eutopic and ectopic endometrial CAMs has been a focus of recent studies concerning the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Specific alterations in endometrial and peritoneal CAMs could facilitate binding of reflux menstruated endometrium at ectopic sites. In addition, the expression of CAMs by endometriotic lesions has been investigated to help understand mechanisms involved in the maintenance of endometrial tissue in ectopic locations. An understanding of the mechanisms involved in the interaction of endometrium with peritoneal tissues may provide new strategies to prevent endometriotic implants from forming and help treat existing lesions.
子宫内膜异位症的发病机制仍未完全明确。子宫内膜与腹膜的相互作用是该疾病进程的一个重要方面。细胞黏附分子（CAMs）是跨膜受体，可促进细胞间结合以及细胞与细胞外基质（ECM）的相互作用。根据序列同源性和三级结构的相似性，CAMs和ECM的成分被分为大家族。在位和异位子宫内膜CAMs的功能一直是近期关于子宫内膜异位症发病机制研究的重点。子宫内膜和腹膜CAMs的特定改变可能有助于反流的月经子宫内膜在异位部位的黏附。此外，已对子宫内膜异位病变中CAMs的表达进行了研究，以帮助理解维持异位部位子宫内膜组织的机制。了解子宫内膜与腹膜组织相互作用的机制可能会提供新的策略来预防子宫内膜异位植入物的形成，并有助于治疗现有的病变。
