The interleukin 2 gene is expressed in the syncytiotrophoblast of the human placenta.
The lymphokine interleukin 2 is an important immune system regulatory glycopolypeptide. It is produced by antigen- or mitogen-stimulated T lymphocytes and is required for the proliferation or clonal expansion of activated T lymphocytes. In this report, it is demonstrated by RNA transfer blot hybridization that the poly(A)+ RNA population of the human placenta contains a 0.85-kilobase RNA transcript that specifically hybridizes to a human interleukin 2 cDNA probe. By using hybridization histochemistry in situ, it is further shown that interleukin 2 RNA transcripts are localized, primarily, to the syncytial (syncytiotrophoblast) layer of the human placenta. Possible roles for syncytiotrophoblast-produced interleukin 2 are suggested and discussed.
Boehm
K D
KD
Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve, University School of Medicine, OH.
Kelley
M F
MF
Ilan
J
J
Ilan
J
J
D001345:Autoradiography; D015342:DNA Probes; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011061:Poly A / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000032:analysis*
D015342:DNA Probes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011061:Poly A; D012313:RNA