Sasson Isaac E, Taylor Hugh S
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., P.O. Box 208063, New Haven, CT 06520-8063, USA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008 Apr;1127:106-15. doi: 10.1196/annals.1434.014.
Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder that is defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. This disease often results in extensive morbidity, including chronic pelvic pain and infertility. The pathogenesis of endometriosis is likely multifactorial, and extensive investigation has explored the role of genetics, environmental factors, and the immune system in predisposing patients to developing endometriosis. A series of recent publications have described the identification of endometrial stem/progenitor cells. Such cells have long been speculated to function in the cyclic regeneration of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle and in the pathogenesis of several gynecological disorders. This narrative review will (i) examine the evidence for endometrial stem cells, (ii) examine their potential role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, and (iii) identify important unanswered questions with suggestions for future investigation.
子宫内膜异位症是一种常见的妇科疾病，其定义为子宫腔外存在子宫内膜组织。这种疾病常导致严重的发病率，包括慢性盆腔疼痛和不孕。子宫内膜异位症的发病机制可能是多因素的，大量研究探讨了遗传、环境因素和免疫系统在使患者易患子宫内膜异位症方面的作用。最近一系列出版物描述了子宫内膜干/祖细胞的鉴定。长期以来，人们一直推测这类细胞在月经周期中子宫内膜的周期性再生以及几种妇科疾病的发病机制中发挥作用。这篇叙述性综述将（i）研究子宫内膜干细胞的证据，（ii）研究它们在子宫内膜异位症发病机制中的潜在作用，以及（iii）确定重要的未解决问题并提出未来研究的建议。
