Mutual Communication at Implantation

Question 1

What is the main role of estrogen and progesterone in implantation?

Answer 1

Govern chronological events of conception

Question 2

Where can you find estrogen and progesterone receptors?

Answer 2

expressed in the stroma of human endometrium

Question 3

What mechanism do estrogen and progesterone act via?

Answer 3

Endocrinic

Question 4

How do estrogen receptors in uterine stroma mediate the effects of estrogen?

Answer 4

Via site specific DNA interactions of co regulatory proteins

Question 5

How do progesterone receptors in the endometrium mediate the effects of progesterone?

Answer 5

By regulating transcriptional responses of implantation related genes

Question 6

What autocrine affects does hCG exert?

Answer 6

Increase differentiation in trophoblast cells, and increase migration of extravillious trophoblasts

Question 7

Which body expresses IL-1b

Answer 7

blastocyst

Question 8

What is the main function of IL-1? (not restricted to reproduction)

Answer 8

Pro inflammatory cytokine

Question 9

Where are IL-receptors localised to?

Answer 9

Localised to surface epithelium (of endometrium)

Question 10

At what point in the menstrual cycle is IL-R expressed?

Answer 10

expressed throughout the menstrual cycle, expression increases in mid luteal phase

Question 11

What effect does IL-receptor antagonist have on mice models?

Answer 11

Decreased implantation rates.

Question 12

What does IGF stand for?

Answer 12

Insulin Growth Factor

Question 13

How many binding proteins are associated with IGF in the endometrium?

Answer 13

6

Question 14

What is the function of IGFBP-1?

Answer 14

Helps modulate mitogenic and metabolic effects of IGF1/2

Question 15

Where is IGFBP-1 found?

Answer 15

Localised to predecidual stromal cells in late secretory phase

Question 16

What affect does IGF2 and IL1b have on IGFBP1?

Answer 16

IGF2 and IL1b inhibit IGFBP-1

Question 17

What is MUCIN1?

Answer 17

Highly glycosylated mucin-like polymorphic protein

Question 18

Where is MUCIN1 expressed?

Answer 18

Expressed in the luminal epithelium

Question 19

What function does MUCIN1 hold?

Answer 19

MUCIN1 is a barrier to implantation

Question 20

When does MUCIN1 expression increase?

Answer 20

Mid luteal phase

Question 21

What is the expression pattern of MUCIN1 at implantation?

Answer 21

MUCIN1 is not found directly at the implantation site, but is found expressed across the rest of the surface epithelium.

Question 22

What is the structure of OPN (osteopontin)?

Answer 22

glycosylated phosphoprotein

Question 23

Where is OPN upregulated?

Answer 23

In the receptive endometrium (mid secretory)

Question 24

What steroid hormone strongly upregulates OPN?

Answer 24

progesterone

Question 25

What is the definition of an Extra Cellular Vesicle (EV)?

Answer 25

membrane bound enclosed nano vesicle discharged by cells carrying cargo (DNA, RNA, lipids and proteins) to other cells

Question 26

What was found in EVs in uterine fluid extracted at pre implantation stage?

Answer 26

High abundance of proteins associated with apoptosis

Question 27

What was found in EVs in uterine fluid extracted during implantation stage?

Answer 27

High abundance of proteins associated with cell adhesion

Question 28

What is the theory behind EV communication from embryo to endometrium.

Answer 28

It is thought that EVs sent from embryo to endometrium to signal whether or not the embryo is developmentally competent.