Endometriosis is a disease that occurs in women and is a major cause of infertility.  This disease results when endometrial fragments shed at menstruation are carried to the peritoneal cavity where they attach to the peritoneal surface, invade and form lesions.  A local inflammatory response occurs which leads to the production of a number of cytokines and this causes pain and infertility.  Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are special enzymes that can degrade the extracellular matrix surrounding cells and allow the cells to invade into a tissue.  Our lab is studying the role of EMMPRIN as a regulator of MMP production in uterine cells and whether EMMPRIN is important in the establishment of lesions in endometriosis.  We have found that EMMPRIN stimulates the production of enzymes called metalloproteinases (MMPs) by endometrial stromal cells.   We are studying the onset of EMMPRIN expression in endometriotic lesions in a baboon animal model for endometriosis.  We are also trying to identify proteins that interact with EMMPRIN and that may act as receptors for EMMPRIN.  Future studies will also focus on structure-function analysis and regulation of EMMPRIN in tumor cells.