Type 2 cadherins in the human endometrium and placenta: their putative roles in human implantation and placentation.
OBJECTIVE
The cadherins are a gene superfamily of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules. To date, the role(s) of the cadherins in human implantation remains poorly defined.


METHODS
The spatiotemporal expression of the type 2 cadherins, known as cadherin-11 and cadherin-6, in the endometrium and placenta was examined using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Cadherin-6 and cadherin-11 are differentially expressed in the endometrial stroma during the menstrual cycle. The switch between cadherin-6 and cadherin-11 expression in the endometrial stroma occurs during the late secretory phase. Maximum cadherin-11 mRNA levels were observed in the decidua of early pregnancy but were markedly reduced at term. In the placenta, cadherin-11 is expressed in the syncytial trophoblast and extravillous cytotrophoblast columns. However, cadherin-6 seems to be the predominant cadherin subtype present in highly invasive extravillous cytotrophoblasts.


CONCLUSIONS
Cadherin-11 and cadherin-6 may play a central role in the formation and organization of the human endometrium and placenta.
MacCalman
C D
CD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Getsios
S
S
Chen
G T
GT
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D010929:Placentation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology
D015820:Cadherins; D012333:RNA, Messenger