Ni Nan, Li Qinglei
Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2017 Oct 13;15(1):84. doi: 10.1186/s12958-017-0303-0.
Decidualization is an intricate biological process where extensive morphological, functional, and genetic changes take place in endometrial stromal cells to support the development of an implanting blastocyst. Deficiencies in decidualization are associated with pregnancy complications and reproductive diseases. Decidualization is coordinately regulated by steroid hormones, growth factors, and molecular and epigenetic mechanisms. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily signaling regulates multifaceted reproductive processes. However, the role of TGFβ signaling in uterine decidualization is poorly understood. Recent studies using the Cre-LoxP strategy have shed new light on the critical role of TGFβ signaling machinery in uterine decidualization. Herein, we focus on reviewing exciting findings from studies using both mouse genetics and in vitro cultured human endometrial stromal cells. We also delve into emerging mechanisms that underlie decidualization, such as non-coding RNAs and epigenetic modifications. We envision that future studies aimed at defining the interrelationship among TGFβ signaling circuitries and their potential interactions with epigenetic modifications/non-coding RNAs during uterine decidualization will open new avenues to treat pregnancy complications associated with decidualization deficiencies.
蜕膜化是一个复杂的生物学过程，在此过程中，子宫内膜基质细胞会发生广泛的形态、功能和基因变化，以支持着床囊胚的发育。蜕膜化缺陷与妊娠并发症和生殖疾病有关。蜕膜化受甾体激素、生长因子以及分子和表观遗传机制的协同调节。转化生长因子β（TGFβ）超家族信号传导调节多方面的生殖过程。然而，TGFβ信号传导在子宫蜕膜化中的作用尚不清楚。最近使用Cre-LoxP策略的研究为TGFβ信号传导机制在子宫蜕膜化中的关键作用提供了新的线索。在此，我们重点回顾使用小鼠遗传学和体外培养的人子宫内膜基质细胞的研究所取得的令人兴奋的发现。我们还深入探讨了蜕膜化背后的新兴机制，如非编码RNA和表观遗传修饰。我们设想，未来旨在确定子宫蜕膜化过程中TGFβ信号传导通路之间的相互关系及其与表观遗传修饰/非编码RNA的潜在相互作用的研究，将为治疗与蜕膜化缺陷相关的妊娠并发症开辟新途径。
