HB-EGF: a unique mediator of embryo-uterine interactions during implantation.
An implantation-competent blastocyst, several hours prior to its attachment on the uterine wall, transmits signals to surrounding uterine cells and vice-versa to initiate a two-way interaction. The language of this precocious dialogue is versatile, taking advantage of secreted molecules for long-range interactions and membrane-bound molecules for more immediate interactions. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) was identified as an early messenger of implantation which uses both modes of communication. In this review, we discuss the footprint of HB-EGF as to how it was initially identified as a mediator of implantation and how it initiates embryo-uterine interactions during this process.
Lim
Hyunjung Jade
HJ
Department of Biomedical Science & Technology, Research Center for Drugs, IBST, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Kwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701 Korea. hlim@konkuk.ac.kr
Dey
S K
SK
D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008024:Ligands; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
C587883:HBEGF protein, human; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands