Human Decidual Stromal Cells as a Component of the Implantation Niche and a Modulator of Maternal Immunity

Figure 1

Temporal representation of the decidualization process starting after the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle and progressing through the first trimester of pregnancy. Progesterone and oestrogen levels increase until the end of gestation, while the decidualization factors, prokineticin-1, activin A, IL-11, PRL, and IGFBP-1 increase in the first trimester until the complete formation of the placenta. LIF is a decidualization factor peaking at peri-implantation.