| First Author | Daikoku T | Year | 2011 |
| Journal | Dev Cell | Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 6 | Pages | 1014-25 |
| PubMed ID | 22100262 | Mgi Jnum | J:178944 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5300657 | Doi | 10.1016/j.devcel.2011.09.010 |
| Citation | Daikoku T, et al. (2011) Conditional Deletion of MSX Homeobox Genes in the Uterus Inhibits Blastocyst Implantation by Altering Uterine Receptivity. Dev Cell 21(6):1014-25 |
| abstractText | An effective bidirectional communication between an implantation-competent blastocyst and the receptive uterus is a prerequisite for mammalian reproduction. The blastocyst will implant only when this molecular cross-talk is established. Here we show that the muscle segment homeobox gene (Msh) family members Msx1 and Msx2, which are two highly conserved genes critical for epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during development, also play crucial roles in embryo implantation. Loss of Msx1/Msx2 expression correlates with altered uterine luminal epithelial cell polarity and affects E-cadherin/beta-catenin complex formation through the control of Wnt5a expression. Application of Wnt5a in vitro compromised blastocyst invasion and trophoblast outgrowth on cultured uterine epithelial cells. The finding that Msx1/Msx2 genes are critical for conferring uterine receptivity and readiness to implantation could have clinical significance, because compromised uterine receptivity is a major cause of pregnancy failure in IVF programs. |
