Human macrophage colony-stimulating factor induces the differentiation of trophoblast.
When human cytotrophoblastic cells in the early stage of pregnancy were cultured in a serum-free medium in the presence of human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), the cytotrophoblastic cells fused and formed a typical syncytiotrophoblast which had a dense distribution of microvilli revealed under an electron microscope. On the other hand, cytotrophoblasts incubated with anti-M-CSF antibody showed hardly any syncytiotrophoblast formation. Following this finding, we studied the differentiation of chorionic cells from the viewpoint of hormone secretion. When cytotrophoblasts were incubated in the presence of M-CSF, the supernatant of the culture showed an increase in human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen levels in proportion to the concentration of M-CSF added. When cytotrophoblasts were incubated in the presence of anti-M-CSF antibody or anti-fms antibody, human chorionic gonadotropin and human placental lactogen secretion were suppressed. Thus, M-CSF was morphologically and endocrinologically found to induce the differentiation of chorionic cells.
Saito
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Japan.
Saito
M
M
Enomoto
M
M
Ito
A
A
Motoyoshi
K
K
Nakagawa
T
T
Ichijo
M
M
D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D010928:Placental Lactogen