Association Between Chemical Exposome, Endometriosis and Infertility by an Integrative Approach

LABERCA, a national reference laboratory for chemical pollutants and a labelled metabolomics platform, has developed a new integrative exposure-metabolomics approach based on high-resolution mass spectrometry technologies allowing the exploration of endogenous and exogenous chemical space within biological matrices, coupled with advanced biostatistical methods to promote the identification of biomarkers in health studies (Cano-Sancho et al., 2019). This approach is of great interest both for fundamental research of an etiological and mechanistic nature on complex multifactorial diseases, but also for translational research, which accelerates the application of scientific innovations for better patient care.

Ultimately, the objective is to produce pilot data on the imputability of POPs in infertility and in the pathophysiology of endometriosis in order to reflect on the implementation of preventive measures in infertile women. Identifying exposures to chemical substances and their physiopathological role can help to control their risks and lead to a reflection on the implementation of preventive measures. In case of convincing results, a metabolomic approach will be carried out in order to study the underlying pathogenic mechanisms but also to identify clinical biomarkers. The objective of this project is an integrative multi-omic approach with the ambition to reveal mechanistic associations as well as possible biomarkers of effect on the theme of endometriosis and associated infertility.

This is an observational monocentric non-interventional prospective exploratory study on matched case-control questionnaire and biocollection, in the Reproductive Biology department and in the Gynaecology department of the University Hospital of Nantes.

The biocollection "Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproduction", was submitted to the CPP and the CNIL and declared to the Ministry of Research, as well as the informed consent proposed to patients included in our study.

The recruitment of participants is carried out in parallel by the gynaecology department for Groups 1 and 2, and the Reproductive Medicine department for Groups 3, 4 and 5.