TROPHOBLAST MIGRATION DURING HUMAN PLACENTAL IMPLANTATION

During the process of implantation in humans, fetal trophoblast cells invade and migrate into the maternal decidua, During this migration, t rophoblast cells destroy the wall of the maternal spiral arteries, con verting them from muscular vessels into flaccid sinusoidal sacs, This vascular transformation is important to ensure an adequate blood suppl y to the feto-placental unit, Both cell-cell and cell-matrix interacti ons are important for trophoblast invasion of the decidual stroma and decidual spiral arteries. Cell-matrix adhesions are mediated by specif ic receptors, mostly belonging to the family of integrins. Signals tra nsduced to the cells from the matrix via integrins could play a pivota l role in the control of cellular behaviour and gene expression, such as metalloproteinases that facilitate matrix degradation and tissue re modelling, This review focuses on the role of integrins and extracellu lar matrix in trophoblast cell migration, trophoblast invasion of the decidual spiral arteries and matrix degradation by trophoblast during implantation.