Differential gene expression of TGF-beta isoforms and TGF-beta receptors during the first trimester of pregnancy at the human maternal-fetal interface.
OBJECTIVE
The transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta s are multifunctional cytokines, and they play a role in the controlled growth of trophoblasts. Moreover they are thought to be important in maternal-fetal interaction during early gestation.


METHODS
Human decidual and villous tissues in the first trimester were Northern blotted and amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to measure the expression of TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3 and their receptors, types I and II, at the first trimester of pregnancy. In addition, their cell-specific expression at the maternal-fetal interface was determined by in situ hybridization.


RESULTS
Each isoform of TGF-beta was expressed in both decidual and villous tissues. Because most TGF-beta 1 gene expression was found in villous tissues, TGF-beta 2 mRNA was expressed preferentially in the decidual tissues. TGF-beta 3 transcripts were expressed in the nonpregnant endometrium.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that each isoform of TGF-beta plays some specific role in decidualization and placentation. Furthermore, it is predicted that they regulate the maternal-fetal interaction at early gestation.
Ando
N
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan.
Hirahara
F
F
Fukushima
J
J
Kawamoto
S
S
Okuda
K
K
Funabashi
T
T
Gorai
I
I
Minaguchi
H
H
D015152:Blotting, Northern; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta