Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, along with collaborators, have reported promising findings that could lead to the development of a non-invasive stool test and new therapy for endometriosis. This condition affects nearly 200 million women globally and is characterized by the growth of womb lining outside its normal location, often causing pain and infertility.
Dr. Rama Kommagani, associate professor in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor, explained that endometriosis is frequently misdiagnosed as a bowel condition due to its symptoms. "Generally, it takes approximately seven years to detect endometriosis and is often diagnosed incorrectly as a bowel condition," he said. The current diagnostic methods are invasive and treatments ineffective, highlighting the need for better management strategies.
Previous studies in mice indicated that the microbiome might contribute to endometriosis progression. In their recent study published in Med journal, researchers compared bacteria and metabolites in stools from women with endometriosis to those from healthy women. They found significant differences suggesting that stool metabolites could form the basis for a non-invasive diagnostic test.
The team identified a unique combination of bacterial metabolites associated with endometriosis, including 4-hydroxyindole. Dr. Chandni Talwar noted this metabolite is produced by beneficial bacteria but is less prevalent in affected women. "Our study is the first to discover a unique metabolite profile linked to human endometriosis," she stated.
Animal model studies showed that administering 4-hydroxyindole could prevent inflammation and pain related to endometriosis. Dr. Kommagani mentioned an interesting link between this metabolite profile and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), suggesting potential connections between these conditions.
The research team continues efforts toward developing a non-invasive stool test for diagnosing endometriosis while also assessing 4-hydroxyindole's safety and efficacy as treatment.
Contributors include Goutham Venkata Naga Davuluri, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Cristian Coarfa, Sang Jun Han, Surabi Veeraragavan, Krishna Parsawar, Nagireddy Putluri, Kristi Hoffman, Patricia Jimenez and Scott Biest from Baylor College of Medicine, University of Arizona – Tucson and Washington University School of Medicine – St. Louis.
This research was supported by NIH/NICHD grants (R01HD102680, R01HD104813) along with a Research Scholar Grant from the American Cancer Society.
