To further validate our results, we evaluated both the gene and protein expression levels of genes encoding estrogen synthesis enzymes, i.e. STAR (encoding StAR), HSD3B2 (encoding HSD3β2), CYP19A1 (encoding aromatase), and HSD17B1 (encoding HSD17β1) in the primary endometriotic stromal cells derived from OE, AD, and DE tissue samples or endometrial stromal cells derived from the control group. Here, STAR is linked to Alzheimer disease.