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Epigenetic modifications working in the decidualization and endometrial receptivity

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Abstract

Decidualization is a critical event for the blastocyst implantation, placental development and fetal growth and the normal term. In mice, the embryo implantation to the uterine epithelial would trigger the endometrial stromal cells to differentiate into decidual stromal cells. However, decidualization in women takes place from the secretory phase of each menstrual cycle and continues to early pregnancy if there is conceptus. Deficient decidualization is often associated with pregnancy specific complications and reproductive disorders. Dramatic changes occur in the gene expression profiles during decidualization, which is coordinately regulated by steroid hormones, growth factors, and molecular and epigenetic mechanisms. Recently, emerging evidences showed that epigenetic modifications, mainly including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs, play an important role in the decidualization process via affecting the target genes’ expression. In this review, we will focus on the epigenetic modifications in decidualization and open novel avenues to predict and treat the pregnancy complications caused by abnormal decidualization.

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Funding

This work was supported by National Key Research & Developmental Program of China (2018YFC1003900; 2018YFC1003904), and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81871186).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Reproductive Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Rd, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China

    Hong Liu, Xiaobo Huang, Gil Mor & Aihua Liao

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA

    Gil Mor

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  1. Hong Liu
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  2. Xiaobo Huang
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  3. Gil Mor
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  4. Aihua Liao
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Contributions

HL design, text and drawings. XH text and drawings. GM and AL design, text revision and final approval.

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Correspondence to Aihua Liao.

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Liu, H., Huang, X., Mor, G. et al. Epigenetic modifications working in the decidualization and endometrial receptivity. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 77, 2091–2101 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-019-03395-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-019-03395-9

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