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Type 2 Cadherins in the Human Endometrium and Placenta: Their Putative Roles in Human Implantation and Placentation
Author(s) -
Maccalman Colin D.,
Getsios Spiro,
Chen George T.C.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1998.tb00341.x
Subject(s) - cadherin , endometrium , placentation , decidua , placenta , cytotrophoblast , biology , trophoblast , microbiology and biotechnology , decidualization , andrology , endocrinology , fetus , pregnancy , medicine , genetics , cell
PROBLEM: The Cadherins are a gene superfamily of calcium‐dependent cell adhesion molecules. To date, the role(s) of the Cadherins in human implantation remains poorly defined. METHOD OF STUDY: The spatiotemporal expression of the type 2 Cadherins, known as Cadherin‐11 and cadherin‐6, in the endometrium and placenta was examined using the reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Cadherin‐6 and Cadherin‐11 are differentially expressed in the endometrial stroma during the menstrual cycle. The switch between cadherin‐6 and Cadherin‐11 expression in the endometrial stroma occurs during the late secretory phase. Maximum Cadherin‐11 mRNA levels were observed in the decidua of early pregnancy but were markedly reduced at term. In the placenta, Cadherin‐11 is expressed in the syncytial trophoblast and extravillous cytotrophoblast columns. However, cadherin‐6 seems to be the predominant Cadherin subtype present in highly invasive extravillous cytotrophoblasts. CONCLUSION: Cadherin‐11 and cadherin‐6 may play a central role in the formation and organization of the human endometrium and placenta.