title: MicroRNA regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 during embryo implantation.
abstract: The implantation process is complex, requiring reciprocal interactions between implantation-competent blastocysts and the receptive uterus. Because microRNAs (miRNAs) have major roles in regulating gene expression, we speculated that they participate in directing the highly regulated spatiotemporally expressed genetic network during implantation. Here, we show that two miRNAs, mmu-miR-101a and mmu-miR-199a*, are spatiotemporally expressed in the mouse uterus during implantation coincident with expression of cyclooxygenase-2, a gene critical for implantation. More interestingly, our in vitro gain- and loss-of-function experiments show that cyclooxygenase-2 expression is posttranscriptionally regulated by these two miRNAs. We report on miRNA-mediated regulation of uterine gene expression in the context of implantation. We believe that many other critical genes related to this process are also regulated by miRNAs. Thus, elucidating the physiological roles of uterine miRNAs will help us better understand the genetic control of implantation, the gateway to a successful pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Anindita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chakrabarty
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tranguch
authors.forename: Takiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Daikoku
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furneaux
authors.forename: Sudhansu K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Dey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2