The molar vesicle fluid contains the beta-core fragment of human chorionic gonadotropin.
The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) beta-core fragment (beta-CF) is a major molecular form of hCG beta subunit (hCGbeta) immunoreactivity in the urine of pregnant women and patients with trophoblastic disease. The majority of evidence supports the fact that the beta-CF is a degradative product of intact hCG and free hCGbeta in the kidneys. We found a beta-CF-like substance in the fluid of molar vesicles from a patient with complete hydatidiform mole. The molar fluid beta-CF (mbeta-CF) was indistinguishable from the beta-CF in the patient's urine (ubeta-CF) by immunoreactivity and by elution profile on gel chromatography. The binding study to lectins, however, showed that mbeta-CF contains a carbohydrate moiety that differs from that of ubeta-CF. Immunohistochemistry with anti-beta-CF antibody demonstrated a strong immunoreactivity in a large number of macrophages in the molar villous stroma. In vitro incubation of intact hCG with peritoneal macrophages showed a slow increase of intact hCG in the cell cytosol with the appearance of beta-CF-like substance in the cell supernatant. In conclusion, the source of beta-CF in molar fluid is likely to be macrophages existing in the villous stroma. Thus macrophages may ingest intact hCG and act as a local regulator of gonadotropic hormones.
Khan
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Honjo 1-1-1, Kumamoto-City, 860-8556, Japan.
Katabuchi
H
H
Araki
M
M
Ohba
T
T
Koizumi
T
T
Okamura
H
H
Nishimura
R
R
D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C063554:urinary gonadotropin fragment