Context and significance
Clinical management of endometriosis, a gynecological disease that is a leading cause of infertility in women, remains a challenge with no known cure. Scientists from Baylor College of Medicine combined the gut metabolomic and microbiota signatures in the stool samples from women with endometriosis to identify a gut-bacteria-derived therapeutic intervention candidate, 4-hydroxyindole. They demonstrate that 4-hydroxyindole prevents the formation of endometriotic lesions, augments their regression, and reduces disease-associated pain. Their work also identified altered bacteria-derived distinct metabolites that could potentially be used for non-invasive diagnosis of the disease.
Highlights
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Women with endometriosis have a distinct stool metabolome for non-invasive diagnosis
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Bacteria-derived metabolites in endometriosis are associated with those in IBD
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Bacteria-derived 4-hydroxyindole level is lower in stool from women with endometriosis
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4-Hydroxyindole inhibits the onset and progression of endometriosis
2 Medical News 