[HTML][HTML] Uterine Rbpj is required for embryonic-uterine orientation and decidual remodeling via Notch pathway-independent and-dependent mechanisms

S Zhang, S Kong, B Wang, X Cheng, Y Chen, W Wu… - Cell research, 2014 - nature.com
S Zhang, S Kong, B Wang, X Cheng, Y Chen, W Wu, Q Wang, J Shi, Y Zhang, S Wang, J Lu…
Cell research, 2014nature.com
Coordinated uterine-embryonic axis formation and decidual remodeling are hallmarks of
mammalian post-implantation embryo development. Embryonic-uterine orientation is
determined at initial implantation and synchronized with decidual development. However,
the molecular mechanisms controlling these events remain elusive despite its discovery a
long time ago. In the present study, we found that uterine-specific deletion of Rbpj, the
nuclear transducer of Notch signaling, resulted in abnormal embryonic-uterine orientation …
Abstract
Coordinated uterine-embryonic axis formation and decidual remodeling are hallmarks of mammalian post-implantation embryo development. Embryonic-uterine orientation is determined at initial implantation and synchronized with decidual development. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling these events remain elusive despite its discovery a long time ago. In the present study, we found that uterine-specific deletion of Rbpj, the nuclear transducer of Notch signaling, resulted in abnormal embryonic-uterine orientation and decidual patterning at post-implantation stages, leading to substantial embryo loss. We further revealed that prior to embryo attachment, Rbpj confers on-time uterine lumen shape transformation via physically interacting with uterine estrogen receptor (ERα) in a Notch pathway-independent manner, which is essential for the initial establishment of embryo orientation in alignment with uterine axis. While at post-implantation stages, Rbpj directly regulates the expression of uterine matrix metalloproteinase in a Notch pathway-dependent manner, which is required for normal post-implantation decidual remodeling. These results demonstrate that uterine Rbpj is essential for normal embryo development via instructing the initial embryonic-uterine orientation and ensuring normal decidual patterning in a stage-specific manner. Our data also substantiate the concept that normal mammalian embryonic-uterine orientation requires proper guidance from developmentally controlled uterine signaling.
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