Indian hedgehog is a major mediator of progesterone signaling in the mouse uterus.
The hedgehog family of morphogens are regulators of cell proliferation, differentiation and cell-cell communication. These morphogens have been shown to have important roles in organogenesis, spermatogenesis, stem cell maintenance and oncogenesis. Indian hedgehog (encoded by Ihh) has been shown to be expressed in the uterine epithelium under the control of the steroid hormone, progesterone. Although in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that progesterone achieves its effects on uterine function through epithelial-stromal cross-talk, molecular mediator(s) for this cellular communication pathway have not been elucidated. Using new experimental approaches that ablate Ihh specifically in Pgr-positive uterine cells of the mouse, we demonstrate that Ihh is an essential mediator of Pgr action in the uterus, and expression of this factor is critical in mediating the communication between the uterine epithelium and stroma required for embryo implantation.
Lee
Kevin
K
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Jeong
JaeWook
J
Kwak
Inseok
I
Yu
Cheng-Tai
CT
Lanske
Beate
B
Soegiarto
Desi W
DW
Toftgard
Rune
R
Tsai
Ming-Jer
MJ
Tsai
Sophia
S
Lydon
John P
JP
DeMayo
Francesco J
FJ
D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000235:genetics; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C514061:ihh protein, mouse; D011374:Progesterone