Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 4, 2025

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis
11:44

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis

Published on: March 30, 2019

7.9K

Ssc-miR-21-5p regulates endometrial epithelial cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration via the PDCD4/AKT pathway

Renwu Hua1, Xiuling Zhang1, Wenchao Li1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430000, China.

Journal of Cell Science
|October 24, 2020
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs regulate gene expression and embryo implantation. This study shows that ssc-miR-21-5p in pigs is crucial for endometrial receptivity by targeting PDCD4 and influencing the AKT pathway, impacting embryo implantation.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Molecular Endocrinology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Endometrial receptivity is critical for successful embryo implantation.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression, but their role in early pregnancy is not fully understood.
  • The specific function of miRNAs in porcine endometrial receptivity requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of ssc-miR-21-5p in regulating endometrial receptivity during the pre-implantation period in pigs.
  • To identify the molecular targets and pathways affected by ssc-miR-21-5p in endometrial epithelial cells (EECs).

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative analysis of ssc-miR-21-5p expression in porcine endometrium during pregnancy.
  • In vitro knockdown of ssc-miR-21-5p in porcine EECs to assess effects on cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis.
  • Verification of programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) as a direct target of ssc-miR-21-5p.
  • Analysis of the PDCD4/AKT pathway, including AKT1 phosphorylation and downstream targets (Bax, Bcl2, Mmp9).
  • In vivo functional study using mmu-miR-21-5p loss-of-function in mice.

Main Results:

  • ssc-miR-21-5p expression increased significantly in porcine endometrium from day 9 to day 12 of pregnancy.
  • Knockdown of ssc-miR-21-5p inhibited EEC proliferation and migration while inducing apoptosis.
  • PDCD4 was confirmed as a target of ssc-miR-21-5p, and its inhibition rescued the effects of ssc-miR-21-5p repression.
  • ssc-miR-21-5p knockdown impeded AKT1 phosphorylation via PDCD4, leading to increased Bax and decreased Bcl2 and Mmp9 levels.
  • Loss of mmu-miR-21-5p function in vivo reduced the number of implanted mouse embryos.

Conclusions:

  • ssc-miR-21-5p plays a crucial role in regulating endometrial receptivity in pigs.
  • The mechanism involves the modulation of the PDCD4/AKT pathway, affecting cell fate and implantation.
  • These findings provide insights into the molecular regulation of early pregnancy in pigs.
Keywords:
AKTEmbryo implantationEndometrial epithelial cellsPDCD4Ssc-miR-21-5p

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Advancing Reproductive Immunology with a Protocol for the Quantitative Evaluation of Endometrial Immune Cells07:46

Author Spotlight: Advancing Reproductive Immunology with a Protocol for the Quantitative Evaluation of Endometrial Immune Cells

Published on: October 13, 2023

1.6K
Establishing 3D Endometrial Organoids from the Mouse Uterus06:24

Establishing 3D Endometrial Organoids from the Mouse Uterus

Published on: January 6, 2023

7.2K

Related Concept Videos

Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.0K
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
5.4K
Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division01:27

Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division

Several external and internal factors influence the initiation and inhibition of cell division. For instance, the death of nearby cells or the release of human growth hormone (hGH) promotes cell division. In contrast, lack of hGH or crowding of cells can inhibit cell division.
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...
3.7K
Separation of Sister Chromatids02:17

Separation of Sister Chromatids

At the transition from prophase to metaphase, there is a reduction in cohesion along the chromosomal arms, resulting in the resolution of sister chromatids. However, residual cohesin connections remain to hold the sister chromatids together until the transition from metaphase to anaphase. The residual connection prevents any premature separation of sister chromatids, blocking the risks of aneuploidy within the daughter cells.
At the onset of anaphase, separase, a proteolytic enzyme, is...
4.1K
Positive Regulator Molecules02:39

Positive Regulator Molecules

Mitotic cell division results in daughter cells that exactly resemble the parent cell. However, errors in the DNA replication or distribution of genetic material may lead to genetic mutations that may be passed down to every new cell formed from the resulting abnormal cell. Propagation of such mutant cells is restricted through checkpoint mechanisms present at different stages of the cell cycle. These checkpoints involve regulator molecules that either promote or demote cell cycle events.
6.3K
Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
37.7K