title: Elsevier Trophoblast Research Award lecture: The multifaceted role of Nodal signaling during mammalian reproduction.
abstract: Nodal, a secreted signaling protein in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily, has established roles in vertebrate development. However, components of the Nodal signaling pathway are also expressed at the maternal-fetal interface and have been implicated in many processes of mammalian reproduction. Emerging evidence indicates that Nodal and its extracellular inhibitor Lefty are expressed in the uterus and complex interactions between the two proteins mediate menstruation, decidualization and embryo implantation. Furthermore, several studies have shown that Nodal from both fetal and maternal sources may regulate trophoblast cell fate and facilitate placentation as both embryonic and uterine-specific Nodal knockout mouse strains exhibit disrupted placenta morphology. Here we review the established and prospective roles of Nodal signaling in facilitating successful pregnancy, including recent evidence supporting a potential link to parturition and preterm birth.
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada. craig.park@mail.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dufort
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D008598:Menstruation / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D055457:Nodal Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D010929:Placentation / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D055457:Nodal Protein