Stromal cells of endometriosis fail to produce paracrine factors that induce epithelial 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 gene and its transcriptional regulator Sp1: a mechanism for defective estradiol metabolism

A stromal cell defect in endometriosis blocks formation of progesterone-dependent production of factors leading to 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 deficiency and defective conversion of estradiol to estrone in epithelium.