File:Implantation LIF.jpg: Difference between revisions

Adplantation (attachment) and implantation is the first physical interaction between developing conceptus and the maternal uterus. The cavity within the blastocyst and the inner cell mass that forms the embryo begin early differentiation. Recent findings in mouse have shown that maternal leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) has an important role in the implantation process.

a At day 4 of pregnancy, oestrogen E2 induces LIF expression in the endometrial glands, leading to LIF secretion into the uterine lumen. There, LIF binds to its receptors on the surface of epithelial cells.

bThis makes the uterus receptive to the blastocyst, which implants by day 5 of pregnancy. Hu et al.2 find that LIF expression in the endometrial glands also depends on the regulatory activity of p53. In the absence of p53, insufficient LIF is produced, the uterus does not become adequately receptive, and fewer blastocysts implant.

Leukemia Inhibitory Factor also called in the literature cholinergic differentiation factor.

Image source: News and Views - Stewart, CL Nature 450, 619 (29 November 2007) by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd (copyright 2007)

Hu W, Feng Z, Teresky AK, Levine AJ. p53 regulates maternal reproduction through LIF. Nature. 2007 Nov 29;450(7170):721-4. PMID: 18046411