The role of mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathway in endometriosis

Gizem Bora, Aylin Yaba
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research · 2021 · vol. 47(5) , pp. 1610–1623 · doi:10.1111/jog.14710 · PMID:33590617 · W3129635425
review OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 39 in-corpus citations
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This review examines how mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are activated in endometriosis, contributing to lesion survival, proliferation, migration, and invasion.

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Abstract

AIM: Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent chronic inflammatory condition which causes pain, infertility, and predisposition for ovarian cancer. Endometriosis generates a unique microenvironment for survivability of endometriotic lesions which includes cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. For these cellular activities, cascading activations of intracellular kinases are needed. Many kinase signaling pathways, IKKβ/NK-κB pathway, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways (ERK1/2, p38, and JNK), are activated in endometriosis. In this review, we focus on the role of MAPK pathways in endometriosis. METHODS: To identify the role of MAP Kinase signaling pathway in endometriosis we searched the Pubmed database using the search terms in various combinations "endometriosis," "endometrium," "ovary," "MAPK pathway," "ERK pathway," "p38 pathway," "JNK pathway," "estrogen," and "progesterone." RESULTS: According to the current literature, MAPK signaling pathway has various roles in generating microenvironment and survival of endometriosis. Abnormal MAPK activation in migration, implantation, growth, invasion into the pelvic structures, proliferation, and apoptosis leads to the form of endometriosis and to worsen the condition in patients with endometriosis. CONCLUSION: To further investigations on the effective and long-term endometriosis treatment, MAPK signaling pathways may be targeted. Molecular mechanism of MAPK signaling pathway in endometriosis should be more deeply understood and clinical trials should be more commonly performed for possible new endometriosis treatments to improve fertility and rescue endometriosis irreversibly.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans MAP Kinase Signaling System Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases Signal Transduction

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (100)

Cited by (39)

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europepmc
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License: CC0 · commercial use OK