title: Immunocytochemical localization of interferons in human trophoblast populations.
abstract: It is known that Interferon (IFN) is present in normal body fluids and tissues during pregnancy. Using an immunohistochemical technique and a panel of monoclonal antibodies we have localized IFN-alpha, -beta and -gamma directly on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded normal human placentae at different stages of pregnancy and in the hydatidiform mole. The results show that IFNs is mostly localized in villous syncytiotrophoblast and in extravillous interstitial-trophoblast. No reactivity was observed in villous cytotrophoblast or in cytotrophoblast cell columns. The most intense staining was observed for IFN-alpha and -beta, while IFN-gamma was rather weak. There is then a gradual diminution in IFN reactivity with increasing gestation age being almost imperceptible at term. These results suggest that IFN may deploy antiviral, immunomodulator and differentiation activities during normal human pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Physiology, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paulesu
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bocci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Loke
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000276:immunology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007372:Interferons / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000276:immunology; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007372:Interferons