MicroRNAs, endometrial receptivity and molecular pathways

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a type of specific molecules that control the activities of the uterus, such as the process of cellular maturing and evolution. A lot of substances like growth factors, cytokines, and transcription factors play a role in embryo-endometrial interaction. MiRNAs could regulate various these factors by attaching to the 3' UTR of their mRNAs. Moreover, current research show that miRNAs participate in formation of blood vessels in endometrium (miR-206, miR-17-5p, miR-16-5p…), decidualization (miR-154, miR-181, miR-9…), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (miR-30a-3p), immune response (miR-888, miR-376a, miR-300…) embryo attachment (miR-145, miR-27a,451…) and pinopod formation (mir-223-3p, mir-449a, mir-200c). In this study, the focus is on the role of miRNAs in managing the uterus' receptivity to an embryo and its ability to facilitate attachment. More specifically, we are exploring the mechanisms by which miRNAs regulate the presence of specific molecules involved in this crucial physiological process.

Keywords: Embryo research; Endometrium; MicroRNA; Uterus.

Fig. 1

Schematic illustration of miRNAs functions in improving the endometrial receptivity. MiRNA works as a regulator of gene expression and is actively involved in regulating embryo development, endometrial functions, and embryo-maternal communications. The verification of functional extracellular miRNAs brings new opportunities for improving implantation outcomes mainly from two aspects: first, intercellular communication through extracellular miRNAs provides a new dimension for understanding the mechanism of implantation; second, extracellular miRNAs have the potential for being effective biomarkers in IVF-ET for detection and prognosis of embryo quality and endometrium receptivity

Fig. 2

Schematic illustration of miRNAs functions in reducing the endometrial receptivity. The aberrant expression of endometriumor embryo-derived miRNAs can cause early pregnancy and gestational disorders, including repeated implantation failure, recurrent miscarriage, and pathological conditions such as endometriosis