Expression and regulation of transforming growth factor and#946;2 matrix metalloproteinases minus2 minus9 and estrogen receptor family mRNAs in mice uterus

Abstract

Reproductive system is the most dynamic organ system carrying out cyclical newlineproliferation and remodeling of organs in adult organisms. Throughout the newlinereproductive life of both humans and rodents, the uterus went through various newlinemorphological and histological alterations and numerous cycles of growth, cellular newlinedifferentiation, shedding and revival every 28 days in humans and 4-5 days in newlinerodents to facilitate implantation of embryo. The changes are mainly carried out by newlinetwo major sex steroids: estrogen or its most active form 17and#946;-estradiol (E2) and newlineprogesterone (P4) throughout the estrous or menstrual cycle. Estrogen mediates newlinecellular proliferation, whereas progesterone suppresses it. Besides these steroids, the newlinecyclical regulation in uterus is also carried out by myriad of other factors such as, newlinecytokines, proteases and growth factors. Microarray analysis revealed that many newlineproteases including matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 11 (MMP2 and MMP11) are newlineupregulated during late secretory phase. Also members of transforming growth factor newlineand#946; (TGFand#946;) superfamily are expressed abundantly within the endometrium and carry newlineout various functions like proliferation and differentiation of tissues, angiogenesis, newlineapoptosis and remodeling of tissues. Thus, this class of growth factors play a key role newlinein orchestrating various cellular events like proliferation, decidualization and embryo newlineimplantation during pregnancy. newline