Research Progress of Heparin-binding Epithelial Growth Factor in Reproductive Medicine
ZHOU Yi-ming
TANG Xiao-han
Abstract：Heparin-binding epithelial growth factor (HB-EGF),a member of the EGF family,is synthesized as a membrane-anchored precursor (proHB-EGF).ProHB-EGF is then cleaved to yield a soluble HB-EGF (sHB-EGF) by specific metalloproteases.ProHB-EGF is not only the precursor molecule for sHB-EGF but also a biologically active molecule itself.ProHB-EGF forms a complex with membrane proteins,which is localized at the cell contact site,suggesting that proHB-EGF may function in cell-to-cell signaling by a juxtacrine mechanism.In an in vitro model,proHB-EGF showed a growth inhibitory activity while sHB-EGF a growth stimulatory activity,suggesting that proHB-EGF and sHB-EGF work in different ways.However,the in vivo functions of sHB-EGF and proHB-EGF have not been defined.Many recent studies suggested that they play an important role in various physiological processes.This review introduced the potential roles of HB-EGF in reproductive endocrine,including mitosis and apoptosis of the corpus lutein cells,follicular development and embryo transfer.
Keywords：Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factorEpidermal growth factorHeparinLuteal cellsOvarian follicleEmbryo transferReproductive medicine
Publication Date：2017-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 156-159 )