title: Nuclear hormone receptors and female reproduction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nuclear Hormone Receptors (NHR) are, as the name implies, receptors located in the cell nucleus that have transcription modulating characteristics. Activated non-steroidal lipophilic ligands bind these receptors resulting in dimerisation of the ligands, DNA-binding and transcriptional regulation of target proteins that influence especially cell differentiation, metabolic homeostasis and embryogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review is based on publications derived from PubMed based pursuit of scientific literature in conjunction with the authors' experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, a summary of NHR family members (RXR, PPAR, VDR, TR) first in respect to known general aspects such as ligands, binding domains, signalling mechanism and second focussing especially their influence on female reproduction is offered. Furthermore, crosstalk with other prominent signalling proteins important to trophoblast function [signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor 'kappa-light-chain-enhancer' of activated B-cells (NFκB), Akt/ phosphaidyl-3-kinase (PI3K), and Wnt, are described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering their attributes, it is not surprising that NHR family members play a central role in female reproduction by targeting cell differentiation, metabolic homeostasis and embryogenesis. However, it seems that crosstalk depends on stage of trophoblast differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Maistrasse 11, D-80337 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pestka
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.forename: U R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Markert
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jeschke
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear