Bovine endometrial metallopeptidases MMP14 and MMP2 and the metallopeptidase inhibitor TIMP2 participate in maternal preparation of pregnancy

Susanne E. Ulbrich , Swanhild U. Meyer , Karina Zitta (1) , Stefan Hiendleder (2) , Fred Sinowatz (3) , Stefan Bauersachs (4) , Mathias Büttner , Thomas Fröhlich (4) , Georg Arnold (4) , Horst-Dieter Reichenbach (5) , Eckhard Wolf (4) , Heinrich H.D. Meyer

1 present address: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
2 University of Adelaide
3 Institute of Veterinary Anatomy
4 LMU - Ludwig Maximilian University [Munich] = Ludwig Maximilians Universität München
5 Institute of Animal Breeding

Early embryonic development is critically dependent on both maternal preparation and embryonic signalling of pregnancy. Matrix metallopeptidases (MMP) contribute to spatial and temporal matrix remodeling in the bovine endometrium. In this study we observed distinct changes of MMP2, MMP14 and the metallopeptidase inhibitor TIMP2 between different phases of the estrous cycle indicating an endocrine regulation. A distinct increase of TIMP2 protein abundance was ascertained in the uterine lumen during the time of embryo elongation. The expression pattern and cellular localization correlate well with the assumed effects of MMPs on release and activation of cytokines and growth factors directing cell migration, differentiation, and vascularization during this pivotal period of development. Specifically, active MMP2 in the endometrium may determine the allocation of growth factors supporting conceptus development. Due to the presence of a day 18 conceptus and day 8 blastocysts endometrial mRNA expression was induced. The results imply that is involved in very early local maternal recognition of pregnancy. Matrix metallopeptidases are likely to participate in remodeling processes preparing a receptive endometrium for a timely precise regulation of embryo development.

Mots clés: matrix metallopeptidases; metallopeptidase inhibitor; preimplantation; pregnancy; (Bos taurus); (endometrium)

Susanne E. Ulbrich, Swanhild U. Meyer, Karina Zitta, Stefan Hiendleder, Fred Sinowatz, et al.. Bovine endometrial metallopeptidases MMP14 and MMP2 and the metallopeptidase inhibitor TIMP2 participate in maternal preparation of pregnancy. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2010, 332 (1-2), pp.48. ⟨10.1016/j.mce.2010.09.009⟩. ⟨hal-00654969⟩