Cutting edge Seminar

 

Speaker: Shizu Aikawa (Associate Professor, Life Science Center of Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba）

Title: The Decidua: A Foundation for Successful Pregnancy

Date&Time: 11 November (wed)　12：00-13：00

Venue: Zoom only

※This seminar can also be attended through ZOOM. Please check the URL on “S-HIGO Cutting-Edge Seminar A, B” at Moodle.

https://md.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/course/view.php?id=136783

 

Abstract:

Embryo implantation represents the first critical step in the interaction between the embryo and the maternal uterus. Defects in this process can lead to pregnancy loss and placental disorders. Successful pregnancy requires not only embryo attachment but also the formation of a specialized maternal environment, known as the decidua, that supports subsequent embryonic development. Our research has focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying decidual formation and its physiological functions during pregnancy. Recent studies have revealed critical roles of extracellular matrix remodeling in regulating trophoblast invasion and decidual development, highlighting the importance of HIF2α–LOX signaling and the Hippo pathway effector TAZ. In this seminar, I will present our recent findings on how the maternal decidual microenvironment is established and how it contributes to successful pregnancy.