Abstract
The endometrium is normally a hostile environment for an embryo, except for a short phase in each reproductive cycle known as the 'window of receptivity'. The precise molecular events involved in this transformation are not well understood. Application of state-of-the-art techniques of the 1990s has identified some of the genes involved, which are reviewed here. Mice with a null mutation in either the gene for leukemia inhibitory factor or the interleukin-11 receptor alpha chain are infertile, owing in both cases to a failure of embryo implantation. Both of these genes are expressed in the human endometrium with patterns suggesting a role in human fertility. The technique of RNA differential display has been applied to a comparison of the expression of genes at implantation sites v. inter-implantation sites in the mouse uterus on the first day of implantation, and has defined additional genes whose products may be important for this process. Among these are the calcium-binding protein D9K, the monoclonal non-specific suppressor factor beta, and the splicing factor SC35. The major challenge is to determine whether manipulation of such genes can increase or decrease endometrial receptivity in humans.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Calbindins
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Embryo Implantation / genetics*
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Embryo Implantation / physiology
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Endometrium / physiology*
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Female
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
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Growth Inhibitors / biosynthesis
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Growth Inhibitors / physiology
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Humans
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Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit
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Interleukin-6*
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Leukemia Inhibitory Factor
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Lymphokines / biosynthesis
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Lymphokines / physiology
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Male
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Mice
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Nuclear Proteins / biosynthesis
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Nuclear Proteins / physiology
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Pregnancy
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Receptors, Cytokine / biosynthesis
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Receptors, Cytokine / physiology
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Receptors, Interleukin / biosynthesis
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Receptors, Interleukin / physiology
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Receptors, Interleukin-11
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Ribonucleoproteins*
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S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / biosynthesis
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S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / physiology
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Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors
Substances
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Calbindins
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Growth Inhibitors
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IL11RA protein, human
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Il11ra1 protein, mouse
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Il11ra2 protein, mouse
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Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit
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Interleukin-6
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LIF protein, human
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Leukemia Inhibitory Factor
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Lif protein, mouse
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Lymphokines
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Nuclear Proteins
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Receptors, Cytokine
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Receptors, Interleukin
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Receptors, Interleukin-11
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Ribonucleoproteins
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S100 Calcium Binding Protein G
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SRSF2 protein, mouse
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monoclonal-nonspecific suppressor factor receptor
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SRSF2 protein, human
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Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors