ZMIZ1 and estrogen receptor α form an essential partnership in endometrial biology

Estrogen receptor α (ESR1) is a pivotal regulator of endometrial homeostasis and reproductive function, yet the coregulators that fine tune its transcriptional activity remain incompletely defined. In this issue of the JCI, Hewitt et al. identified Zinc finger MIZ-type containing 1 (ZMIZ1) as an ESR1 coregulator that is essential for stromal proliferation, decidualization, and overall endometrial integrity. ZMIZ1 deficiency was associated with endometriosis and endometrial cancer, and conditional ablation of Zmiz1 using the PgrCre mouse led to infertility and accelerated fibrosis due to impaired estrogen responsiveness. These findings position ZMIZ1 as a key modulator of estrogen signaling with translational potential as both a biomarker and a therapeutic target in uterine disorders.