Biological action of keratinocyte growth factor in BeWo cells, a human choriocarcinoma cell line.
Previously, we reported that the expression of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is enhanced in secretory phase endometrial and decidual cells in early pregnancy as compared with the expression of KGF in proliferative phase endometrial cells, in humans. In order to clarify the role of KGF in embryo-endometrial interaction, we analyzed the in vitro effect of KGF on the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secretion and on DNA synthesis in chorionic villi which are in close contact with the endometrium/decidua in the early stage of pregnancy. In this study, we used the BeWo cell line, a human choriocarcinoma cell line that possesses the biological features of secreting various placental hormones including hCG. Furthermore, we investigated the expression of KGF receptor (KGF-R) in these cells. KGF significantly stimulated hCG secretion in cultured BeWo cells but did not affect [3H]-thymidine incorporation. KGF-R mRNA was detected in BeWo cells by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. These results suggest that the expression of KGF, which is induced in endometrial/decidual cells by progesterone, plays an important role in the embryo-endometrial/ decidual interaction by stimulating hCG secretion rather than affecting cell proliferation.
Matsui
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
Taga
M
M
Kurogi
K
K
Hiraga
M
M
Suyama
K
K
Ohkouchi
C
C
Minaguchi
H
H
D002455:Cell Division; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; C496453:FGF7 protein, human; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D006133:Growth Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004247:DNA; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; C065104:keratinocyte growth factor receptor