A recent study from Nagoya University reveals a promising link between Fusobacterium bacteria and the development of endometriosis, offering a potential new non-hormonal approach to managing endometriosis.
Endometriosis affects approximately one in ten women of reproductive age and is associated with chronic pelvic pain and infertility.
While hormone therapy and surgical intervention remain standard treatments, they are not without risks. Recurrence is common, and both approaches can adversely affect future fertility.
In a recent study conducted by researchers at Nagoya University’s Graduate School of Medicine and iGCORE, Fusobacterium infection was shown to aggravate lesion formation in mice. When the bacteria were cleared with antibiotics, the extent of lesion development diminished significantly.2
By analyzing upstream molecular interactions, the study sheds light on how Fusobacterium may contribute to endometriosis.
Elevated levels of TAGLN, a protein involved in cellular motility and fibrosis, were consistently observed in affected tissues. Researchers identified TGF‑β as the likely regulatory factor driving TAGLN expression.
Given that macrophages are primary sources of TGF‑β during immune activation, the data suggest that Fusobacterium-induced macrophage activity may play a direct role in lesion formation.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Nagoya University Hospital is actively conducting clinical trials to assess the efficacy of antibiotic treatment in human patients with endometriosis.
Source:
- Elimination of Type of Bacteria Suggests Treatment for Endometriosis.” ScienceDaily, 14 June 2023, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230614220552.htm. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
