The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Critically Regulates Endometrial Function during Early Pregnancy

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Approximately 10% of reproductive aged women are considered infertile. While great strides have been made in assisted reproductive technologies, overall success rates, especially considering the cost, remain low. Studies indicate that due to its sequential nature, nearly 75% of pregnancy failures are due to defects that occur very early in gestation. Therefore, understanding the physiological changes that occur in the endometrium during this period and how those changes are regulated is of paramount importance if we are to improve our ability to address female reproductive health concerns. We investigated a family of growth factor receptors and identified one that critically regulates the growth and survival of the endometrium in response to the implanting embryo. Furthermore, we used unbiased approaches to identify which signaling pathways and genetic networks are activated downstream of this receptor to execute each of the processes necessary for a successful pregnancy. Understanding the mechanisms and genetic networks with which pregnancy is regulated is a prerequisite to the development of effective pharmaceutical therapeutics.

Vyšlo v časopise: The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Critically Regulates Endometrial Function during Early Pregnancy. PLoS Genet 10(6): e32767. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1004451
Kategorie: Research Article
prolekare.web.journal.doi_sk: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1004451

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