Genes involved in implantation.
The endometrium is normally a hostile environment for an embryo, except for a short phase in each reproductive cycle known as the 'window of receptivity'. The precise molecular events involved in this transformation are not well understood. Application of state-of-the-art techniques of the 1990s has identified some of the genes involved, which are reviewed here. Mice with a null mutation in either the gene for leukemia inhibitory factor or the interleukin-11 receptor alpha chain are infertile, owing in both cases to a failure of embryo implantation. Both of these genes are expressed in the human endometrium with patterns suggesting a role in human fertility. The technique of RNA differential display has been applied to a comparison of the expression of genes at implantation sites v. inter-implantation sites in the mouse uterus on the first day of implantation, and has defined additional genes whose products may be important for this process. Among these are the calcium-binding protein D9K, the monoclonal non-specific suppressor factor beta, and the splicing factor SC35. The major challenge is to determine whether manipulation of such genes can increase or decrease endometrial receptivity in humans.
Salamonsen
L A
LA
Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. lois.salamonsen@med.monash.edu.au
Nie
G
G
Dimitriadis
E
E
Robb
L
L
Findlay
J K
JK
D000818:Animals; D064026:Calbindins; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D053703:Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D053702:Receptors, Interleukin-11; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D000068103:Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors
D064026:Calbindins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; C508428:IL11RA protein, human; C508429:Il11ra1 protein, mouse; C508431:Il11ra2 protein, mouse; D053703:Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit; D015850:Interleukin-6; C507837:LIF protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; C507838:Lif protein, mouse; D008222:Lymphokines; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053702:Receptors, Interleukin-11; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; C499372:SRSF2 protein, mouse; C066109:monoclonal-nonspecific suppressor factor receptor; C073288:SRSF2 protein, human; D000068103:Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors