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Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Therapeutic Strategies for Improving Pregnancy Rates by Analyzing Embryo-Endometrium Interactions
Published on: June 21, 2024
Benzoic Acid Enhances Embryo Implantation through LIF-Dependent Expression of Integrin αVβ3 and αVβ5
Hee-Jung Choi1, Tae-Wook Chung1, Mi-Ju Park1
1School of Korean Medicine and Healthy Aging Korean Medicine Research Center, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Embryo implantation is the crucial step for a successful pregnancy. Diverse factors, including adhesion molecules, growth factors, and cytokines are important for embryo implantation through improving endometrial receptivity. Benzoic acid (BA), a component of various plants, has been shown to have antifungal and antioxidant effects. However, the effect of BA on embryo implantation remains unknown. Here, we showed the contribution of BA for the enhancement of endometrial receptivity through the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-dependent increase of integrin αV, β3, and β5 expression. Furthermore, in vivo study using a mifepristone-induced implantation failure model showed that BA definitely improves the numbers of implantation embryos. Taken together, we suggest that BA has a novel function for embryo implantation through the up-regulation of LIF-mediated integrins, and may be a candidate for therapeutic medicine to increase the pregnancy rate.
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