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Progesterone action in the human endometrium: induction of a unique tissue environment which limits matrix
Kevin G Osteen1, Toshio M Igarashi, Kaylon L Bruner-Tran
1Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA. Kevin.osteen@vanderbilt.edu
Abstract:
The endometrium is a unique adult tissue which, in the absence of pregnancy or disease, undergoes cyclic breakdown and regrowth approximately 400 times during a woman's reproductive life. The chances of reproductive success during each cycle depends on appropriate, cell-specific responses to steroids, including expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Normal endometrial MMP regulation in response to either estrogen or progesterone requires additional, cell-specific interactions mediated by various growth factors and cytokines. During endometrial maturation, progesterone, retinoic acid and TGF-beta act cooperatively, providing a remarkable biological balance to regulate expression of MMPs in the highly steroid-sensitive endometrium. Exploring the regulatory actions of locally produced growth factors and cytokines on members of the MMP family and their inhibitors will allow a better understanding of the unique physiology of the human endometrium under the influence of progesterone.