Cytokines in implantation

Implantation is a process that involves development, attachment and invasion of the blastocyst into the endometrium. Successful implantation requires appropriate communication between the embryo and maternal endometrium. There is evidence to suggest that cytokines produced by the maternal endometrium and the developing embryo play a crucial role in this signalling process. Although numerous cytokine-receptor pairs are expressed by the maternal endometrium and the embryo during implantation, functional knowledge of these cytokines is limited. Compelling data demonstrating a functional role for cytokines in implantation comes from studies using specific cytokine and cytokine receptor knockout mice. There are limited similar data for human implantation, but clinical correlative data and studies using in vitro models indicate that cytokines may have an important functional role in this process. Cytokines that appear to have a functional role in mammalian implantation include leukaemia inhibitory factor, interleukin 1, hepatocyte growth factor, stem cell factor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor and insulin-like growth factors. As implantation failure is a significant cause of natural and in vitro fertilization pregnancy failure, a better understanding of the functional role of these cytokine-receptor pairs is important for improving the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.