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 12 October 2008 00:31 BST

Possible cause of endometriosis found

Wednesday, 06 Aug 2008 08:55
Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain
Scientists believe they have found the enzyme that could be responsible for a painful womb condition that can affect infertility.

The team from the University of Liverpool argue that the discovery will help researchers develop new techniques for diagnosing and treating the condition, known as endometriosis.

This causes patches of the inner lining of the womb to appear in parts of the body other than the womb cavity and affects about 15 per cent of women of reproductive age.

It can result in severe pelvic pain and is associated with infertility, with half of infertile women affected by the condition.

The researchers discovered that an enzyme, called telomerase, is released by cells in the inner lining of the womb during the latter stages of the menstrual cycle in women who are affected by endometriosis.

This enzyme can extend the length of telomeres – regions at the end of all chromosomes – so that they divide and this happens in some cells such as sperm and egg cells, but not normally in cells that make up the organs of the body.

"Our research shows, however, that cells in the lining of the womb are unique in that they can express this enzyme in the early stages of the menstrual cycle when cell division is important, but not during the latter stages when implantation of the fertilised embryo becomes a priority," said Dr Dharani Hapangama.

"Women who have endometriosis express this enzyme in both the early and late stages of the menstrual cycle which means that the cells will continue to divide and lose their 'focus' in supporting the establishment of a pregnancy.

"As a result the lining of the womb may be more hostile to an early pregnancy, and the cells that are shed at this late stage in the menstrual cycle may be more 'aggressive' and more able to survive and implant outside the uterus, causing pain in the pelvic or abdomen area."

The research is published in the journal Human Reproduction.
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