title: Interaction between sex hormones and WNT/β-catenin signal transduction in endometrial physiology and disease.
abstract: Wnt/β-catenin signalling plays a rate-limiting role in early development of many different organs in a broad spectrum of organisms. In the developing Müllerian duct, Wnt/β-catenin signalling is important for initiation, outgrowth, patterning and differentiation into vagina, cervix, uterus and oviducts. In adult life, sex hormones modulate Wnt/β-catenin signalling in the endometrium to maintain the monthly balance between estrogen-induced proliferation and progesterone-induced differentiation, and enhanced Wnt/β-catenin signalling seems to be involved in endometrial carcinogenesis. However, early in pregnancy enhanced Wnt/β-catenin signalling is prerequisite for proper implantation and invasion of trophoblast cells into endometrium and myometrium thus helping to form a placenta. Overall, it seems that tight control of Wnt/β-catenin signalling in time and space is important for initiation, development and normal function of the female reproductive tract. However, if Wnt/β-catenin signalling is not kept in check, it easily seems to initiate or contribute to development of a number of uterine disorders.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. p.vanderhorst@erasmusmc.nl
authors: Paul H
authors: PH
authors: van der Horst
authors: Yongyi
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Marten
authors: M
authors: van der Zee
authors: Curt W
authors: CW
authors: Burger
authors: Leen J
authors: LJ
authors: Blok
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones