Cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in endometrium related to implantation.
The complexity of the events of embryo implantation and placentation is exemplified by the number and range of cytokines with demonstrated roles in these processes. Disturbance of the normal expression or action of these cytokines results in complete or partial failure of implantation and abnormal placental formation in mice or humans. Of known importance are members of the gp130 family such as interleukin-11 (IL-11) and leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) superfamily including the activins, the colony-stimulating factors (CSF), the IL-1 system and IL-15 system. New data are also emerging for roles for a number of chemokines (chemoattractive cytokines) both in recruiting specific cohorts of leukocytes to implantation sites and in trophoblast differentiation and trafficking. This review focuses on those cytokines and chemokines whose expression pattern in the human endometrium is consistent with a potential role in implantation and placentation and for which some relevant actions are known. It examines what is known of their regulation and action along with alterations in clinically relevant situations.
Dimitriadis
E
E
Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Box 5152, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia. evdokia.dimitriadis@phimr.monash.edu.au
White
C A
CA
Jones
R L
RL
Salamonsen
L A
LA
D028341:Activins / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D018925:Chemokines / Q000502:physiology*; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D017370:Interleukin-11 / Q000502:physiology; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D010929:Placentation / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology
D018925:Chemokines; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D006133:Growth Substances; D007375:Interleukin-1; D017370:Interleukin-11; D019409:Interleukin-15; D015850:Interleukin-6; C507837:LIF protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D028341:Activins