Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) induction on Snail expression during mouse decidualization

Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2013 Dec 5;381(1-2):272-9. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.08.011. Epub 2013 Aug 29.

Abstract

Embryo implantation requires a precise synchronism between the receptive uterus and activated blastocyst and is regulated by complicated molecular networks. Although many implantation-related genes have been identified, the crosstalk among them is still unknown. Snail, a transcription repressor, plays a central role during epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Our previous study showed that Snail is highly expressed at implantation site in mouse uterus. This study was to examine how Snail is related with other implantation-related genes in mice. Uterine stromal cells were isolated from mouse uteri on day 4 of pregnancy and treated with HB-EGF. Snail was induced significantly by HB-EGF. By using specific inhibitors and siRNA, we demonstrated that HB-EGF induction on Snail expression is dependent on the EGFR-ERK-Stat3 pathway. Cox-2 was regulated by Snail. The current findings demonstrate that Snail can relate with HB-EGF, Stat3 and Cox-2 and may play a role during mouse embryo implantation and decidualization.

Keywords: Decidua; Embryo implantation; HB-EGF; Snail; Uterus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Decidua / metabolism*
  • Embryo Implantation
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Phosphorylation
  • Pregnancy
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcriptional Activation*

Substances

  • Hbegf protein, mouse
  • Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Stat3 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • Ptgs2 protein, mouse
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • EGFR protein, mouse
  • ErbB Receptors