Endometriosis patient-derived small extracellular vesicles carry unique immune, proteomic and lipidomic signatures associated with mild and severe endometriosis

Abstract

Endometriosis (EM) is a heterogeneous, gynecological inflammatory disease affecting over 200 million individuals worldwide, yet the mechanisms underlying lesion establishment, progression, and recurrence remain incompletely understood. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) mediate intercellular communication through the transfer of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids reflective of their cellular origin; however, stage- and tissue-specific sEV signatures remain poorly defined. Here, we characterized the molecular and functional landscape of EM-derived sEVs across disease stages and biological sources. sEVs isolated from eutopic endometrium, ectopic lesions, peritoneal fluid, and plasma from mild- and severe-stage EM patients and healthy controls were analyzed by surface marker profiling, proteomics, lipidomics, and integrated multi-omics, with functional effects assessed in human uterine microvascular endothelial cells. sEV composition varied by disease stage and sample type, with EM lesion-derived sEVs demonstrating stage-dependent loss of epithelial-associated markers and enrichment of immune-associated signatures, while EM plasma-derived sEVs exhibited altered adhesion- and platelet-associated profiles. Integrated multi-omics identified coordinated programs associated with immune adaptation, extracellular matrix organization, epithelial remodeling, vascular signaling, oxidative stress, and metabolic adaptation. Functionally, sEVs derived from severe endometriotic lesions exhibited enhanced uptake and mitochondrial localization in endothelial cells and promoted angiogenic activity. Our findings establish sEVs as dynamic mediators of EM disease progression and demonstrate that integrated sEV profiling provides a framework for understanding EM heterogeneity and identifying candidate biomarkers and therapeutic targets.