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.