1H NMR Based Targeted Metabolite Profiling for Understanding the Complex Relationship Connecting Oxidative Stress with Endometriosis

Figure 2

Figure depicting the role of metabolites in generation of free radicals. Lower levels of glucose along with elevated levels of pyruvate, citrate, and succinate indicate enhanced glucose metabolism along with impaired mitochondrial respiration. I, II, and III represent complex I, II, and III, respectively, of electron transport chain. Complex I and III are the primary sites of free radical generation. Elevated levels of succinate indicate complex III to be the most probable site for ROS generation in endometriosis. These free radicals are further removed from the system by various ROS scavengers such as SOD and catalase. An imbalance in the rate of formation and removal of free radicals results in oxidative stress. In endometriosis, lower levels of these enzymes lead to continued prevalence of oxidative stress.