Mutual Communication at Implantation Flashcards
What is the main role of estrogen and progesterone in implantation?
Govern chronological events of conception
Where can you find estrogen and progesterone receptors?
expressed in the stroma of human endometrium
What mechanism do estrogen and progesterone act via?
Endocrinic
How do estrogen receptors in uterine stroma mediate the effects of estrogen?
Via site specific DNA interactions of co regulatory proteins
How do progesterone receptors in the endometrium mediate the effects of progesterone?
By regulating transcriptional responses of implantation related genes
What autocrine affects does hCG exert?
Increase differentiation in trophoblast cells, and increase migration of extravillious trophoblasts
Which body expresses IL-1b
blastocyst
What is the main function of IL-1? (not restricted to reproduction)
Pro inflammatory cytokine
Where are IL-receptors localised to?
Localised to surface epithelium (of endometrium)
At what point in the menstrual cycle is IL-R expressed?
expressed throughout the menstrual cycle, expression increases in mid luteal phase
What effect does IL-receptor antagonist have on mice models?
Decreased implantation rates.
What does IGF stand for?
Insulin Growth Factor
How many binding proteins are associated with IGF in the endometrium?
6
What is the function of IGFBP-1?
Helps modulate mitogenic and metabolic effects of IGF1/2
Where is IGFBP-1 found?
Localised to predecidual stromal cells in late secretory phase
What affect does IGF2 and IL1b have on IGFBP1?
IGF2 and IL1b inhibit IGFBP-1
What is MUCIN1?
Highly glycosylated mucin-like polymorphic protein
Where is MUCIN1 expressed?
Expressed in the luminal epithelium
What function does MUCIN1 hold?
MUCIN1 is a barrier to implantation
When does MUCIN1 expression increase?
Mid luteal phase
What is the expression pattern of MUCIN1 at implantation?
MUCIN1 is not found directly at the implantation site, but is found expressed across the rest of the surface epithelium.
What is the structure of OPN (osteopontin)?
glycosylated phosphoprotein
Where is OPN upregulated?
In the receptive endometrium (mid secretory)
What steroid hormone strongly upregulates OPN?
progesterone
What is the definition of an Extra Cellular Vesicle (EV)?
membrane bound enclosed nano vesicle discharged by cells carrying cargo (DNA, RNA, lipids and proteins) to other cells
What was found in EVs in uterine fluid extracted at pre implantation stage?
High abundance of proteins associated with apoptosis
What was found in EVs in uterine fluid extracted during implantation stage?
High abundance of proteins associated with cell adhesion
What is the theory behind EV communication from embryo to endometrium.
It is thought that EVs sent from embryo to endometrium to signal whether or not the embryo is developmentally competent.
