. 2021 Sep 24;10(11):R267–R278. doi: 10.1530/EC-21-0288
This work is licensed under a Table 1.
Role of adipokines in embryo implantation-related functions and their mechanism of action.
| Adipokine |
Function |
Mechanism of action |
Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leptin | Remodeling of the endometrial epithelium (human) | Stimulating proliferation and enhancing Fas ligand-induced apoptosis in EECs | (39) |
| Repairing endometrial epithelium after embryo implantation (human) | ND | (39) | |
| Inducing blastocysts adhesion (mice) | Induction of αv and β3 integrin in EECs | (40) | |
| Stimulating trophoblast invasion (human, mouse) | Upregulating MMP expression in trophoblast cells | (123, 124) | |
| Induction of implantation-related inflammation (human) | Stimulating the production of IL6 and chemokines in EECs and ESCs | (42) | |
| Inhibition of decidualization (human) | ND | (41) | |
| Adiponectin | Playing a role in maternal recognition of pregnancy and implantation (porcine) | Upregulation of basal and insulin-stimulated steroidogenic enzymes, including HSD3B, StAR, and CYP11A1 and secretion of A4 and P4 by the endometrium and myometrium | (51) |
| Involving in the development of the preimplantation embryo and uterine receptivity (mouse) Involving in decidualization |
Activation of autocrine and paracrine mechanisms | (56) | |
| Increasing uterine receptivity Inducing proliferation and attenuating apoptosis of uterine luminal epithelial cells (porcine) |
Stimulation of AKT/PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways | (52) | |
| Involving in implantation and regulating endometrial inflammation (human) | Increasing phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase in ESCs and EECs Decreasing IL1β-induced secretion of IL6, IL8, and MCP1 from ESCs |
(50) | |
| Apelin | Regulating luteal phase of the estrous cycle (pig) | Stimulating P4 secretion and HSD3B activity in the middle of the luteal phase | (64) |
| Regulating early placental development (human) | Enhancing proliferation of trophoblast cells via APJ and ERK1/2, Stat3 and AMPKα signaling | (67) | |
| Decreasing the uterine contractions and facilitating embryo implantation (human) Exerting hypotensive effects on blood vessels (rats) Inducing the uterus myometrium contraction (rats) |
ND Stimulating the phosphorylation of eNOS, activation of guanyl cyclase, and cGMP production in endothelial cells Partially via protein kinase C pathway |
(69, 70) | |
| Chemerin | Maintaining early pregnancy and preventing embryo abortion (human) | Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 | (81) |
| Regulating endometrial receptivity and trophoblast invasiveness (porcine) | ND | (25) | |
| Involving in maternal recognition of pregnancy (porcine) | Possibly via the conceptus-secreted substances, including uPA and E2 | (25) | |
| Decidualization and vascular remodeling during early pregnancy (human) | Accumulating NK cells at the implantation site | (83) | |
| Promoting uterine receptivity and implantation (human, mice) | Augmenting AMPKα activity | (68, 82) | |
| Increasing trophoblast invasion (human) | Production of IL8 and IP10 by NK cells | (83, 84) | |
| Visfatin | Involving in implantation (mice) | Increasing PCNA expression and maintaining the balance between apoptotic and anti-apoptotic elements in the uterus | (99) |
| Affecting uterine immune responses and morphological structure (rat) | Modulating inflammatory responses by regulating the expression of eosinophil, myeloperoxidase, and inflammatory cytokines (IL1β, IL6, and TNFα) | (97) | |
| Involving in the regulation of the placental angiogenesis (human) | ND | (100) | |
| RBP4 | Increasing trophoblast proliferation and invasion (human) | Suppressing PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and upregulating MMP2 and MMP9 | (105) |
| Progranulin | Stimulating blastocyst growth and adhesion (mouse) | ND | (118) |
| Involving in decidualization (murine) | ND | (119) | |
| Establishing placenta by involvement in hypertrophy and proliferation of the endometrial epithelium, growth and migration of cytotrophoblast, and maternal angiogenesis (mink) | ND | (26) | |
| Playing role in uterine angiogenesis and facilitating the implantation (human) | ND | (121) | |
| Involving in blastocysts hatching (mouse) | ND | (118) |
A4, androstenedione; AMP, adenosine monophosphate; AMPK, AMP-activated protein kinase; APJ, apelin receptor; HSD3B, 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; cGMP, cyclic guanosine monophosphate; CYP11A1, cytochrome P450 11A1; E2, estradiol; EEC, endometrial epithelial cells; ERK1/2, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; ESC, endometrial stromal cells; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; MMP, matrix metalloproteinases; ND, not defined; NK, natural killer; P4, progesterone; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen; PI3K/AKT, phosphatidyl inositol-3-kinase/ protein kinase B; StAR, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein; STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; uPA, urokinase plasminogen activator .