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Endometriosis Awareness Week
Posted 10 March 2010
Media Alert - Endometriosis Awareness Week
New protein discoveries reveal clues to development of endometriosis
Researchers at Prince Henry’s Institute (PHI) in Melbourne have made a discovery that could lead to a non-invasive early detection test for endometriosis.
The findings, that women with endometriosis have multiple protein differences in the lining of the uterus compared to other women, have just been published in the Journal of Proteome Research and coincide with Endometriosis Awareness Week which runs internationally from 8 - 14 March 2010.
Head of Uterine Biology at PHI, Professor Lois Salamonsen, believes this research has the potential to help the one in ten women of reproductive age who suffer from this chronic and debilitating condition.
“Our findings reveal a new, much deeper understanding of how endometriosis develops at the molecular level. Hopefully this approach could lead to a detection test for endometriosis allowing for earlier intervention and better management” said Professor Salamonsen.
The study showed changes in the levels of about 70 proteins. In some cases the protein levels were up to 10 times higher than in endometriosis cases, whilst other proteins were less commonly seen in patient tissues.
“Using advanced bioinformatics, we identified multiple biological pathways and molecules as being associated with the disease” said Dr Andrew Stephens at PHI who led the protein analysis study.
The study also saw major changes not only in the levels of key proteins, but also in their chemistry. Modifications were seen in a group of key proteins known to be essential in maintaining cellular structure and also in a protein linked to cell damage. These proteins, not previously known to be associated with endometriosis, offer novel research and development opportunities.
Endometriosis can cause intense pain with the tissue which normally grows in the uterus moving to other sites in the lower body cavity such as the outside the ovaries. Once there the tissue can grow further, leading to lesions which bleed during each period. The condition is also commonly seen in women with fertility problems. The social and economic impact of endometriosis is also substantial.
Currently diagnosing endometriosis is a difficult and complex process. Seeking medical attention may be delayed with the symptoms dismissed by women or their health professionals as simply normal “period pains”. The condition may also be misdiagnosed. A confirmed diagnosis requires a surgical biopsy to confirm the presence of lesions.
“Awareness of endometriosis appears to be gradually improving amongst women and their health professionals but we need to engage the support of the community in our research goals, which include developing a simpler and less invasive test for endometriosis” said Professor Salamonsen.
Publication Information
Post-Translational Modifications and Protein-Specific Isoforms in Endometriosis Revealed by 2D DIGE. Andrew Stephens , Natalie Josephine Hannan , Adam Rainczuk , Katie Meehan , Jenny I-C. Chen , Peter Nicholls , Luk Rombauts , Peter G. Stanton , David M. Robertson and Lois Salamonsen. Journal of Proteome Research (Just Accepted Manuscript, March 3 2010)
About Prince Henry's Institute
PHI is an independent not-for-profit medical research institute based at Monash Medical Centre in Victoria, Australia. The Institute has over 160 staff and students and our vision is to improve quality of life through the investigation of hormones in the fields of reproductive health, cancer, diabetes, obesity, bone health and cardiovascular disease. Research at PHI includes fundamental laboratory research understanding human biology, translational studies focussed upon developing better diagnostics and new treatments and clinical programs to improve patient care.