Spatial transcriptomic analysis identifies epithelium-macrophage crosstalk in endometriotic lesions
Summary: The mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of endometriosis, characterized by the presence of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus, remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify cell type-specific gene expression changes in superficial peritoneal endometriotic lesions and...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | iScience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225000495 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832583081317367808 |
|---|---|
| author | Gregory W. Burns Zhen Fu Erin L. Vegter Zachary B. Madaj Erin Greaves Idhaliz Flores Asgerally T. Fazleabas |
| author_facet | Gregory W. Burns Zhen Fu Erin L. Vegter Zachary B. Madaj Erin Greaves Idhaliz Flores Asgerally T. Fazleabas |
| author_sort | Gregory W. Burns |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: The mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of endometriosis, characterized by the presence of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus, remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify cell type-specific gene expression changes in superficial peritoneal endometriotic lesions and elucidate the crosstalk among the stroma, epithelium, and macrophages compared to patient-matched eutopic endometrium. Surprisingly, comparison between lesions and eutopic endometrium revealed transcriptional similarities, indicating minimal alterations in the sub-epithelial stroma and epithelium of lesions. Spatial transcriptomics highlighted increased signaling between the lesion epithelium and macrophages, emphasizing the role of the epithelium in driving lesion inflammation. We propose that the superficial endometriotic lesion epithelium orchestrates inflammatory signaling and promotes a pro-repair phenotype in macrophages, providing a new role for complement 3 in lesion pathobiology. This study underscores the significance of considering spatial context and cellular interactions in uncovering mechanisms governing disease in endometriotic lesions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3f27547c1e414501b5d64939d9841cd9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2589-0042 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | iScience |
| spelling | doaj-art-3f27547c1e414501b5d64939d9841cd92025-01-29T05:01:37ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422025-02-01282111790Spatial transcriptomic analysis identifies epithelium-macrophage crosstalk in endometriotic lesionsGregory W. Burns0Zhen Fu1Erin L. Vegter2Zachary B. Madaj3Erin Greaves4Idhaliz Flores5Asgerally T. Fazleabas6Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USABioinformatics and Biostatistics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USADepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USABioinformatics and Biostatistics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USADivision of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK; Centre for Early Life, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UKDepartment of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USADepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Corresponding authorSummary: The mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of endometriosis, characterized by the presence of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus, remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify cell type-specific gene expression changes in superficial peritoneal endometriotic lesions and elucidate the crosstalk among the stroma, epithelium, and macrophages compared to patient-matched eutopic endometrium. Surprisingly, comparison between lesions and eutopic endometrium revealed transcriptional similarities, indicating minimal alterations in the sub-epithelial stroma and epithelium of lesions. Spatial transcriptomics highlighted increased signaling between the lesion epithelium and macrophages, emphasizing the role of the epithelium in driving lesion inflammation. We propose that the superficial endometriotic lesion epithelium orchestrates inflammatory signaling and promotes a pro-repair phenotype in macrophages, providing a new role for complement 3 in lesion pathobiology. This study underscores the significance of considering spatial context and cellular interactions in uncovering mechanisms governing disease in endometriotic lesions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225000495reproductive medicineintegrative aspects of cell biologyorganizational aspects of cell biologytranscriptomics |
| spellingShingle | Gregory W. Burns Zhen Fu Erin L. Vegter Zachary B. Madaj Erin Greaves Idhaliz Flores Asgerally T. Fazleabas Spatial transcriptomic analysis identifies epithelium-macrophage crosstalk in endometriotic lesions iScience reproductive medicine integrative aspects of cell biology organizational aspects of cell biology transcriptomics |
| title | Spatial transcriptomic analysis identifies epithelium-macrophage crosstalk in endometriotic lesions |
| title_full | Spatial transcriptomic analysis identifies epithelium-macrophage crosstalk in endometriotic lesions |
| title_fullStr | Spatial transcriptomic analysis identifies epithelium-macrophage crosstalk in endometriotic lesions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial transcriptomic analysis identifies epithelium-macrophage crosstalk in endometriotic lesions |
| title_short | Spatial transcriptomic analysis identifies epithelium-macrophage crosstalk in endometriotic lesions |
| title_sort | spatial transcriptomic analysis identifies epithelium macrophage crosstalk in endometriotic lesions |
| topic | reproductive medicine integrative aspects of cell biology organizational aspects of cell biology transcriptomics |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225000495 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gregorywburns spatialtranscriptomicanalysisidentifiesepitheliummacrophagecrosstalkinendometrioticlesions AT zhenfu spatialtranscriptomicanalysisidentifiesepitheliummacrophagecrosstalkinendometrioticlesions AT erinlvegter spatialtranscriptomicanalysisidentifiesepitheliummacrophagecrosstalkinendometrioticlesions AT zacharybmadaj spatialtranscriptomicanalysisidentifiesepitheliummacrophagecrosstalkinendometrioticlesions AT eringreaves spatialtranscriptomicanalysisidentifiesepitheliummacrophagecrosstalkinendometrioticlesions AT idhalizflores spatialtranscriptomicanalysisidentifiesepitheliummacrophagecrosstalkinendometrioticlesions AT asgerallytfazleabas spatialtranscriptomicanalysisidentifiesepitheliummacrophagecrosstalkinendometrioticlesions |