Osteogenic protein-1 is produced by human fetal trophoblasts in vivo and regulates the synthesis of chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone by trophoblasts in vitro.
Osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1/BMP-7), a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) superfamily of proteins, is shown to be expressed at sites of epithelial-mesenchymal tissue interaction during human fetal development. In the present study, we examined the expression of OP-1 in human placentas (5-11 weeks of gestation and full term) using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry methods. The results show that OP-1 was expressed in cytotrophoblasts (Langhans layer) of the chorionic villi in early and full term placentas. Employing highly purified cytotrophoblast cultures which fused to form functional syncytiotrophoblasts, we showed that exogenously added recombinant OP-1, in the presence of low serum concentration, reduced the secretion of chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone by 60% and 36%, respectively, compared with control cultures. The results suggest that osteogenic protein-1 is synthesized locally by cytotrophoblasts and may be involved in the regulation of human pregnancy by controlling reproductive hormonal secretion.
Martinovic
S
S
Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia.
Latin
V
V
Suchanek
E
E
Stavljenic-Rukavina
A
A
Sampath
K I
KI
Vukicevic
S
S
D000818:Animals; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*
C525819:BMP7 protein, human; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006728:Hormones; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D011374:Progesterone