Metalloproteinases & Endometrium
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Group Leader Etienne Marbaix Patrick Henriet Contact Etienne Marbaix de Duve Institute and Université catholique de Louvain CELL 75-41, 75 avenue Hippocrate B-1200 Brussels phone (direct) : 32 (0)2 764 67 55 phone (secretary) : 32 (0)2 764 75 41 fax : 32 (0)2 764 75 43 e-mail: Etienne Marbaix Patrick Henriet de Duve Institute and Université catholique de Louvain CELL 75-41, 75 avenue Hippocrate B-1200 Brussels phone (direct) : 32 (0)2 764 75 45 phone (secretary) : 32 (0)2 764 75 41 fax : 32 (0)2 764 75 43 e-mail: Patrick Henriet Group members > |
Research topics
The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a central role in the structural and functional organization of tissues and organs. Tissue degradation is the initial step of physiological ECM remodelling and requires a tight regulation that is escaped in several pathologies. The cycling human endometrium is a remarkable example of physiological ECM remodelling under hormonal control and represents a unique experimental model to investigate underlying mechanisms. Our laboratory was the first to demonstrate that menstrual bleeding is due to a dramatic change in the focal expression and/or activation of enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Our current investigations aim at (i) clarifying the mechanisms of local regulation of MMPs expression in the cycling human endometrium, in particular through cellular interactions, (ii) investigating the role of MMPs in abnormal uterine bleeding by developing a model of endometrial xenografts in immunodeficient mice and (iii) investigating the control of local MMP activity by individual cells, in particular through cell membrane binding and endocytosis.
