Membrane fluidity of trophoblast cells and susceptibility to natural cytotoxicity.
This study examines the relationship between membrane lipid microviscosity and susceptibility of villous trophoblast to lysis by natural cytotoxic cells. Trophoblast-enriched cell suspensions prepared from term human placentae were treated with cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHS)--a modulator of membrane lipid microviscosity. CHS-treated cells were more susceptible targets for natural lymphocyte cytotoxicity than were untreated controls. In binding experiments, increased binding of lymphocytes to CHS-treated target cells was found. Preincubation with progesterone prevented membrane rigidification by CHS. Progesterone, cortisol, and estriol restored the impaired resistance of CHS-treated trophoblast cells to lysis. We determined microviscosity and progesterone concentration in villous surface membranes, prepared from placentae from idiopathic spontaneous abortions and normal first-trimester pregnancies. An inverse relationship was found between progesterone content and microviscosity of the membranes. Microviscosity of the membranes from abortion placentae was significantly higher (P less than .01) and progesterone concentration was significantly lower (P less than .001) than those in the membranes of normal first trimester placentae.
Institute of Microbiology, University Medical School Pécs, Hungary.
J
J
Szekeres-Bartho
A
A
Németh
P
P
Varga
V
V
Csernus
T
T
Köszegi
M
M
Paál
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D002460:Cell Line; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004964:Estriol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008871:Microvilli / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D011374:Progesterone; D004964:Estriol; C013440:cholesteryl succinate; D006854:Hydrocortisone