Histone modifications in embryo implantation and placentation: insights from mouse models

Shilei Bi; Zhaowei Tu; Dunjin Chen; Shuang Zhang

doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1229862

Histone modifications in embryo implantation and placentation: insights from mouse models

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Aug 4:14:1229862. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1229862. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Shilei Bi^{1

2

3}, Zhaowei Tu^{1

2

3}, Dunjin Chen^{1

2

3}, Shuang Zhang^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
² Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
³ Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Guangzhou, China.

Abstract

Embryo implantation and placentation play pivotal roles in pregnancy by facilitating crucial maternal-fetal interactions. These dynamic processes involve significant alterations in gene expression profiles within the endometrium and trophoblast lineages. Epigenetics regulatory mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and microRNA expression, act as regulatory switches to modulate gene activity, and have been implicated in establishing a successful pregnancy. Exploring the alterations in these epigenetic modifications can provide valuable insights for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting complications related to pregnancy. However, our current understanding of these mechanisms during key gestational stages remains incomplete. This review focuses on recent advancements in the study of histone modifications during embryo implantation and placentation, while also highlighting future research directions in this field.

Keywords: embryo implantation; epigenetics; histone modifications; mouse models; placentation.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
Disease Models, Animal
Embryo Implantation
Female
Histone Code*
Mice
Placentation*
Pregnancy
Protein Processing, Post-Translational

Grants and funding

Work on this project was supported by grants from National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC2702501 to SZ, 2022YFC2704500 to DC), National Natural Science Foundation of China (82201861 to SB, 82271695 to ZT), Mobility program of Sino German Center (M-0586 to SZ), Mobility program of Sino German Center (M-0586 to SZ).