Miyuki Harada

BACKGROUND: Regulation of decidualization is decisive for proper implantation and the establishment of pregnancy. Recent studies have suggested that several bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play physiological roles in reproduction. In the…

In a novel paradigm of T cell differentiation, type 17 T helper (Th17) cells may play a significant role in endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory disease. However, the mechanism regulating the accumulation of Th17 cells in endometriotic tis…

Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is a G protein-coupled receptor that is activated by serine proteases such as trypsin, tryptase, and coagulation factors VIIa and Xa. A large body of evidence has shown that PAR2 plays an important rol…

Several lines of evidence indicate that the Th2 immune response is associated with endometriosis. Although an increased concentration of interleukin (IL)-4, a typical Th2 cytokine, has been reported in endometriotic tissues, the implication…

BACKGROUND: The increase in concentration of osteoprotegerin, an antagonist of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis may interfere with TRAIL-induced apoptosis i…

IL-17A is secreted from Th17 cells, a discovery leading to revision of the mechanism underlying the role of Th1/Th2 in the immune response. Strong evidence suggests that immune responses associated with inflammation are involved in the path…

CONTEXT: Metformin, a widely used treatment for diabetes that improves insulin sensitivity, also has both antiinflammatory properties and a modulatory effect on ovarian steroid production, two actions that have been suggested to be efficaci…

Adiponectin, a pleiotropic cytokine, exerts its effects via the specific receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. Whereas circulating adiponectin concentrations decrease in women with endometriosis and endometrial cancer, possible effects of adiponec…

Both the classic form of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor, GnRH I, and GnRH agonists reportedly have antiproliferative and apoptotic (programmed cell death) effects on cultured endometriotic cells as well as on some cancer cells …

BACKGROUND: To analyse risk factors that influence the recurrence of endometrioma after laparoscopic excision. METHODS: A total of 224 patients who had a minimum of 2 years of post-operative follow-up after laparoscopic ovarian endometriom…

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has been proposed to play essential roles in the pathophysiology of endometriosis, in which neutrophils and mast cells have been suggested to be involved. We studied whether the protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2),…

PROBLEM: Adiponectin is a novel adipocytokine of extreme importance for the metabolism. Recent studies have indicated that adiponectin suppresses inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrosis, which are central pathogenic factors for endometrios…

BACKGROUND: Aiming at improving an animal model of endometriosis, we developed a homologous mouse model using 'green mice' that ubiquitously express green fluorescent protein. METHODS: Endometrial fragment obtained from estradiol (E2)-supp…

BACKGROUND: GnRH II is the second form of GnRH and is widely distributed in peripheral tissues of the female reproductive tract as well as in the central nervous system. In the present study, we studied the possible implication of GnRH II i…

Uterine movement is suggested to play roles in various events related to the uterus. In view of the current concept underscoring the biological implications of mechanical stretch, we speculated that the mechanical stretch exerted by uterine…

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to assess whether midkine (MK), a multifunctional molecule known to stimulate tumor growth, may be involved in the development of endometriosis. METHODS: The mitogenic activity of MK on cultured …

Endometriosis is known to be associated with local inflammatory reactions. Given the emerging concept of thrombin and its specific receptor, protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1), as important players in inflammation and cell proliferation, …

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of sciatic endometriosis diagnosed by computerized tomography (CT)-guided biopsy in combination with CD10 immunohistochemical staining. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): A 33-year-…

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin is a pleiotropic cytokine originally discovered as an adipocyte-specific gene product. Serum adiponectin concentrations have been reported to be low in women with endometrial cancer, breast cancer and uterine leiomyo…

BACKGROUND: Failure of apoptosis of refluxed endometrial cells within the peritoneal cavity is a possible etiologic factor for development of endometriosis. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a survival factor that exerts its effect by binding to tum…

PROBLEM: Endometriosis accompanies local inflammatory reactions in the peritoneal cavity. We examined the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), i.e. extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAPK (p38) and c-J…