Menstrual-Effluent Exosomes as a Non-Invasive Biopsy for Gynecological Health
Team Members:
Angela Neighbors
Mentors:
Dr. Pranav Sharma
Abstract
Endometriosis is an inflammatory chronic pain condition characterized by the growth of uterine-like tissue outside the uterus, leading to pain, lesion formation, and significant impact on women’s lives. The only current FDA-approved method for diagnosing endometriosis is currently invasive laparoscopic surgery, which underscores the need for less invasive diagnostic methods. This project focuses on the extraction, purification, and utilization of exosomes derived from menstrual blood, where exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that play a crucial role in cell communication and have been implicated in various pathological processes, including angiogenesis. This project aims to evaluate the angiogenic potential of these exosomes in vitro using endothelial cells as a model system; endothelial cells are integral to the formation of new blood vessels, and their behavior can be modulated by exosomes. Our novel assay provides results which indicate that exosomes derived from endometriosis patients exhibit significantly higher angiogenic activity compared to those from non-endometriosis, asymptomatic controls. Quantified results suggest that endometriosis-derived exosomes contain specific factors that enhance angiogenesis, potentially contributing to the pathophysiology of endometriosis, which highlight the potential of menstrual effluent-derived exosomes as a noninvasive biomarker for endometriosis.
Abet Addendum
Angela Neighbors
The Team