Hyocheol Bae, Whasun Lim and Gwonhwa Song
Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Catholic Kwandong University, Republic of Korea
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Microb Biochem Technol
Successful implantation of blastocyst to the maternal uterus is required for embryonic/fetal-maternal interactions regulating implantation, fetal development and placentation. Although expression of ephrin A1 is detected in blastocyst and uterus in mouse, the functional role of ephrin A1 is little known in the early pregnancy. In this study, we investigated the expression and the function of ephrin A1 and its receptors in the porcine endometrium during early pregnancy. Expression of Eph A1, A2, A4 and A7 was highly detected in the endometrial epithelial cells during the peri-implantation and the period of early pregnancy (Days 20 and 30 of gestation). Ephrin A1 stimulated cell proliferation with abundant expression of nucleic proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D1 proteins in porcine endometrial luminal epithelial (pLE) cells. In addition, ephrin A1 activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules in a dosedependent manner in pLE cells. Phosphorylation of AKT, P70S6K, S6, ERK1/2, P38, JNK, and P90RSK proteins were suppressed by pharmacological inhibitors including wortmannin, U0126, SB203580, and SP600125. Also, those inhibitors blocked ephrin A1-induced proliferation and migration of pLE cells. Our finding suggests that Eph A-ephrin A1 system induces development of pLE cells for maintenance of implantation and pregnancy by regulating PI3K and MAPK pathways.
Hyocheol Bae is on course of PhD at Korea University and he has published 12 papers in reputed journals. He received Best Biotechnology Research Award at BK21 PLUS at Korea University. Also, he received Best Presentation Award in conference of The Korean Society of Food and Nutrition.