An In Vivo Screening Model for Investigation of Pathophysiology of Human Implantation Failure

Abstract

To improve current infertility treatments, it is important to understand the pathophysiology of implantation failure. However, many molecules are involved in the normal biological process of implantation and the roles of each molecule and the molecular mechanism are not fully understood. This review highlights the hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ; Sendai virus) envelope (HVJ-E) vector, which uses inactivated viral particles as a local and transient gene transfer system to the murine uterus during the implantation period in order to investigate the molecular mechanism of implantation. In vivo screening in mice using the HVJ-E vector system suggests that signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (Stat-3) could be a diagnostic and therapeutic target for women with a history of implantation failure. The HVJ-E vector system hardly induces complete defects in genes; however, it not only suppresses but also transiently overexpresses some genes in the murine uterus. These features may be useful in investigating the pathophysiology of implantation failure in women.

Implantation and Decidualization in PCOS: Unraveling the Complexities of Pregnancy

“…LIF, secreted by the glandular epithelium in response to estrogen, plays a critical role in implantation. It triggers the activation of Janus kinase (JAK), a tyrosine kinase without a receptor, which in turn activates the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) through phosphorylation [32]. Mice lacking LIF exhibit no expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factors such as heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (Hbegf ), amphiregulin (Areg), and epiregulin (Ereg) around the blastocyst on day 4 of gestation [33,34].…”