Extracellular vesicles and female reproduction |
| |
Authors: | Ronit Machtinger Andrea A. Baccarelli Haotian Wu |
| |
Affiliation: | 1.Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel ;2.Infertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, 52621 Tel Hashomer, Israel ;3.Environmental Precision Biosciences Laboratory, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA |
| |
Abstract: | Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized membrane bound complexes that have been identified as a mean for intercellular communication between cells and tissues both in physiological and pathological conditions. These vesicles contain numerous molecules involved in signal transduction including microRNAs, mRNAs, DNA, proteins, lipids, and cytokines and can affect the behavior of recipient cells. Female reproduction is dependent on extremely fine-tuned endocrine regulation, and EVs may represent an added layer that contributes to this regulation. This narrative review article provides an update on the research of the role of EVs in female reproduction including folliculogenesis, fertilization, embryo quality, and implantation. We also highlight potential pitfalls in typical EV studies and discuss gaps in the current literature. |
| |
Keywords: | Extracellular vesicles Infertility Embryos Blastocyst miRNA |
|
|