Gland Maturation and Implantation
Project 1: Glandular Foxa2 regulates preimplantation gland maturation.
FOXA2 is a glandular transcription factor essential for uterine LIF production and embryo implantation. Our work suggests that uterine glands undergo a maturation process before implantation, with only a subset of mature glands capable of producing LIF. We investigate how FOXA2 regulates gland maturation and maintains glandular epithelial identity to establish uterine receptivity.
Project 2: Stromal ERBB3 signaling regulates preimplantation gland maturation.
Our work suggests that uterine gland maturation is directed not only by intrinsic epithelial programs but also by signals from the surrounding stroma. Activation of stromal ERBB3 is required for the production of IGF1, which acts as a paracrine factor to promote uterine gland branching morphogenesis and maturation. We investigate how stromal ERBB3-IGF1 signaling coordinates epithelial-stromal communication to establish a functionally mature glandular compartment before implantation.
Placentation
Project 1: Small GTPase RhoA is critical for maintaining spiral artery trophoblast giant cell (SpA-TGC) differentiation.
Loss of RHOA promotes precocious differentiation toward the spongiotrophoblast lineage at the expense of glycogen trophoblast and SpA-TGC development. We seek to define the mechanisms by which RHOA regulates trophoblast cell fate decisions during placentation.
