The potential role of environmental toxins in the pathophysiology of endometriosis

Environmental contaminants that are known to disrupt steroid action can inf luence the development of reproductive diseases. Our group has focused on w hether 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin) can disrupt ste roid regulation of endometrial matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression. T he MMPs regulate extracellular matrix turnover in normal tissues, but the i nappropriate expression of these enzymes is associated with numerous diseas e states that involve invasive processes. We have previously shown that sec retion of MMPs by human endometrium is critical for establishment of ectopi c lesions in a nude mouse model of experimental endometriosis. In this repo rt, we show that TCDD exposure promotes establishment of experimental endom etriosis by interfering with the ability of progesterone to suppress endome trial MMP expression. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG. Basel.