In Vitro Tools for Probing Hormone Signaling
Using synthetic biology to probe estrogen and progesterone signaling in endometriosis and adenomyosis
By Wangui Mbuguiro, Archis R Bhandarkar, Trinh Nguyen, Damon A Berman, Colleen R Foley, Elizabeth D Strand, Gizem Gumuskaya, Julia M Goupil, Kathleen H Brandes, Maya L Kaul, Sarah J Caso, Theresa Machemer, Linda Griffith, Ron Weiss, Brian Teague in Previous Projects Hormones In vitro
July 20, 2018
Summary
Affecting approximately 1 in 10 women, endometriosis is a disease caused by cells similar to the endometrium of the uterus growing elsewhere in the body. These growths, called endometrial lesions, cause severe chronic pain and infertility. Because the only definitive diagnostic method is laparoscopic surgery, patients wait on average seven years between the onset of symptoms and an accurate diagnosis.
The goal of the MIT iGEM team’s project is to expedite this diagnosis process with a genetic circuit that can sense the unique biomarkers of endometriosis. Our circuit identifies whether cells are diseased by checking the cells’ miRNA profiles and by sensing progesterone resistance, a hallmark of endometriosis. This identification process can be implemented in endometrial biopsy samples, eliminating the need for surgical diagnosis. Our approach could lead to a less invasive diagnostic method, enabling earlier treatment and improving patient outcomes.
Presentations
2016 → International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition
- Posted on:
- July 20, 2018
- Length:
- 1 minute read, 150 words
- Categories:
- Previous Projects Hormones In vitro
- See Also: