L'implantation : premier dialogue entre la mère et l'embryon

Implantation : the first maternal-embryo crosstalk.
Despite progress in assisted reproduction technologies, the lack of control of implantation remains a major obstacle to obtain successful pregnancies. It is of prime importance to determine the characteristic features of a receptive endometrium. Embryo implantation is a complex event involving apposition followed by the adhesion of the blastocyst to the maternal endometrium, and finally the invasion of this endometrium. Though implantation could occur in any human tissue, the endometrium is the only tissue where embryo implantation cannot occur except during a restricted period called the “implantation window”. During this window, the endometrium is highly receptive to the embryo. Maternal-embryo crosstalk is favored by the implantation window. The molecular basis of the implantation window remains to be defined

In the present study, we investigated the role of hCG, TGFß1, IGF1 and IGF2 in the secretion of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by human epithelial endometrial cells in culture. Epithelial endometrial cells were obtained from endometrial biopsy in 28 fertile women.

HCG and TGFß1 added to primary cultures of human epithelial endometrial cells showed a stimulatory effect on LIF secretion and a reducing effect on IL-6 secretion.

All these findings suggest a role for hCG and TGFß1 in human embryo implantation.