title: Activin A and inhibin A differentially regulate human uterine matrix metalloproteinases: potential interactions during decidualization and trophoblast invasion.
abstract: Embryo implantation and trophoblast invasion are tightly regulated processes, involving sophisticated communication between maternal decidual and fetal trophoblast cells. Decidualization is a prerequisite for successful implantation and is promoted by a number of paracrine agents, including activin A. To understand the downstream mechanisms of activin-promoted decidualization, the effects of activin on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) (important mediators of decidualization) were investigated. Activin A stimulated endometrial production of proMMPs-2, -3, -7, -9, and active MMP-2. In contrast, inhibin A was a potent inhibitor of proMMP-2, and antagonized the effect of activin on MMPs. Activin is up-regulated with decidualization, and MMPs-2, -3, and -9 increase in parallel. Furthermore, proMMP-2 production is stimulated when decidualization is accelerated with activin, and suppressed when activin is neutralized, attenuating decidualization. These data support that activin A promotes decidualization through up-regulating MMPs. Previous in vitro evidence proposes further roles for activin and MMPs in promoting trophoblast invasion; therefore, we examined their interrelationships in early human implantation sites. MMPs-7 and -9 were produced by static cytotrophoblast subpopulations, whereas MMP-2 was strikingly up-regulated in invasive extravillous cytotrophoblasts (EVT). Maternal decidua is the primary source of activin, where a role in stimulating MMP-2 in iEVTs can be envisaged. Inhibin was absent from cytotrophoblast populations, except for a dramatic up-regulation in endovascular EVT plugs, coinciding with a down-regulation of MMP-2. This suggests that inhibin may have a role in the cessation of vascular invasion. These data support that activin, via effects on MMPs, is an important factor in the maternal-fetal dialog regulating implantation.
authors.affiliation: Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. rebecca.lee.jones@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Jock K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Farnworth
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Euan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Lois A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Salamonsen
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits / Q000502:physiology*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000502:physiology*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C422405:activin A; C422362:inhibin A; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases