Distribution of smooth muscle actin and collagen in superficial peritoneal endometriotic lesions varies from the surrounding microenvironment

Abstract

Research question: Do different subtypes of superficial peritoneal endometriotic lesions exist, based on the presence and morphology of smooth muscle, collagen fibres and immune cell populations? Design: A retrospective cohort study of 24 patients, from across the menstrual cycle, with surgically and histologically confirmed endometriosis. Immunofluorescence was used to delineate the CD10 stromal area of lesions (n = 271 lesions from 67 endometriotic biopsies), and then smooth muscle actin (SMA) positive tissue and immune cell populations (CD45+ and CD68+) were quantified within and adjacent to these lesions. Second harmonic generation microscopy was used to evaluate the presence and morphol..