title: Reproductive corticotropin releasing hormone, implantation, and fetal immunotolerance.
abstract: The fundamental process of implantation involves a series of steps leading to effective cross-talk between invasive trophoblast cells and the maternal endometrium. The molecular interactions at the embryo-maternal interface during the time of blastocyst adhesion and subsequent invasion are not fully understood. Embryonic trophoblast and maternal decidual cells produce corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and express Fas ligand (FasL), a proapoptotic cytokine. Fas and its ligand are pivotal in the regulation of immune tolerance. Trophoblast and decidual CRH play crucial roles in implantation, as well as in the anti-rejection process that protects the fetus from the maternal immune system, primarily by killing activated T cells through Fas-FasL interaction. The potential use of CRH antagonists is presently under intense investigation. CRH antagonists have been used experimentally to elucidate the role of CRH in blastocyst implantation and invasion, early fetal immunotolerance, and premature labor.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, Greece. Sophia_Kalantaridou@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sophia N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kalantaridou
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zoumakis
authors.forename: Stacie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weil
authors.forename: Lazaros G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Lavasidis
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chrousos
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makrigiannakis
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000276:immunology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D019014:fas Receptor; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone