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Stem Cells and Uterine Fibroids

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Uterine Fibroids and Adenomyosis

Part of the book series: Comprehensive Gynecology and Obstetrics ((CGO))

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Abstract

Although little is known on the origin of leiomyoma tumorigenesis, increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that leiomyomas arise from a stem cell population in the uterus. Recent articles on stem cells and their paracrine interactions with more specialized cell populations within leiomyomas may help to establish the missing link between the development of treatments designed to stop the growth of leiomyomas and therapies devised to eliminate them. Studies to identify leiomyoma stem or progenitor cell markers might offer new possibilities for understanding the origin of these tumors and perhaps aid the development of noninvasive treatments. Adult (or somatic) stem cells constitute a subset of cells residing in normal tissues. By undergoing asymmetric division, they retain their ability to self-renew while producing daughter cells that go on to differentiate and play a role in tissue regeneration and repair. The unique properties of the uterus to enlarge and remodel suggest the existence of uterine stem cell systems. Neoplastic stem cells or tumor-initiating cells, a subset of cells within a tumor, have the ability to reconstitute tumors. Leiomyomas appear to be monoclonal tumors derived from a single myocyte. Work in recent years has identified, isolated, and characterized putative stem or progenitor cells in the myometrium and in leiomyomas. Here, we review the current literature on leiomyoma stem and progenitor cells and provide a new paradigm for understanding their pathology.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that no conflicts of interest exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

    Masanori Ono M.D., Ph.D. & Hiroshi Fujiwara M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Tetsuo Maruyama M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Serdar E. Bulun M.D.

Authors
  1. Masanori Ono M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Tetsuo Maruyama M.D., Ph.D.
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  3. Hiroshi Fujiwara M.D., Ph.D.
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  4. Serdar E. Bulun M.D.
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Correspondence to Masanori Ono M.D., Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan

    Norihiro Sugino

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Ono, M., Maruyama, T., Fujiwara, H., Bulun, S.E. (2018). Stem Cells and Uterine Fibroids. In: Sugino, N. (eds) Uterine Fibroids and Adenomyosis. Comprehensive Gynecology and Obstetrics. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7167-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7167-6_4

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