Shao Ruijin, Feng Yi, Zou Shien, Weijdegård Birgitta, Wu Gencheng, Brännström Mats, Billig Håkan
Am J Transl Res. 2012;4(3):269-78. Epub 2012 Jul 20.
17β-estradiol, acting through estrogen receptors α and β, plays a fundamental role in the regulation of Fallopian tube cell homeostasis and in the modulation of normal tubal physiological processes. Fluctuations in E2 levels also play crucial roles in the initiation or progression of numerous human diseases. Fallopian tube malfunction often results in tubal ectopic pregnancy, which is one cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in women. Several factors have been proposed to be associated with increased risk of tubal ectopic pregnancy, but whether these factors are the cause of, or are merely symptoms of, such pregnancies remains unresolved due to the lack of knowledge in regards to the mechanisms by which embryos inadvertently implant in the Fallopian tube. This review summarizes recent findings, including data from our own laboratory, on E2 metabolism and estrogen receptor (ER) subtype expression within the Fallopian tube in humans and rodents. This review also outlines several important, unresolved questions in the field that, once addressed, could offer important clues into how E2/ER signaling contributes to the pathology of tubal function. A better understanding of the specific functions of estrogen receptor subtypes in vivo, as well as of the mechanism and consequences of receptor subtype interactions is critical to understanding their respective roles in Fallopian tube physiology and in the pathophysiology and etiology of tubal ectopic pregnancy.
17β-雌二醇通过雌激素受体α和β发挥作用，在调节输卵管细胞内稳态以及调节正常输卵管生理过程中起着重要作用。E2水平的波动在众多人类疾病的发生或发展中也起着关键作用。输卵管功能异常常导致输卵管异位妊娠，这是女性孕产妇发病和死亡的原因之一。已经提出了几个与输卵管异位妊娠风险增加相关的因素，但由于缺乏关于胚胎意外植入输卵管的机制的了解，这些因素是此类妊娠的原因还是仅仅是症状仍未得到解决。本综述总结了包括我们自己实验室的数据在内的关于人类和啮齿动物输卵管内E2代谢和雌激素受体（ER）亚型表达的最新发现。本综述还概述了该领域几个重要的、未解决的问题，一旦得到解决，可能会为E2/ER信号如何导致输卵管功能病理提供重要线索。更好地了解雌激素受体亚型在体内的具体功能，以及受体亚型相互作用的机制和后果，对于理解它们在输卵管生理学以及输卵管异位妊娠的病理生理学和病因学中的各自作用至关重要。
