[Integrins and reproduction]

Integrins are a large family of cell surface proteins that serve as receptors, involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. These receptors are of fundamental importance in the organization of tissues and organs. Integrins participate in a complex apparatus anchoring cells to their surrounding and transducing signals into the cells. These signals regulate many important aspects of cell behaviour, including growth, differentiation and phenotype. Their roles in reproductive performance begin to be explored. It seems that all stages of reproduction involve integrins. During gametogenesis integrins let the gamete to receive the external informations. During fertilization integrins seem dramatically involved. Integrins are expressed in human endometrium. Endometrium integrin molecules appear to be regulated within the cycling endometrium and disruption of integrin expression may be associated with decreased uterine receptivity and infertility. Integrins are present on trophoblaste. A specific integrin type is expressed on invasive trophoblast. Low or absent expression of this specific type should be encountered during pre eclampsia. Probably the knowledge of these integrins will provide to the clinicians new diagnosis tools evaluating the quality of endometrium and of embryos.