Implications in the management of pregnancy: II. Low levels of gene expression but enhanced uptake and accumulation of umbilical cord glycodelin.
OBJECTIVE
We recently reported the presence of glycodelin in the endothelial cells of human umbilical cord. The objective of the current study is to determine whether human umbilical cord endothelial cells synthesize glycodelin.


METHODS
Controlled clinical study.


METHODS
Healthy women undergoing normal delivery at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia.


METHODS
Healthy women undergoing normal delivery.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Human umbilical cord was collected after full-term delivery and total RNA from endothelial cells was isolated. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed by using primers from glycodelin sequence. Human umbilical cord endothelial cells at passage 3 were incubated with glycodelin-derived peptide or glycodelin-rich amniotic fluid. Immunocytochemical analysis was performed by using purified chicken anti-glycodelin peptide antibody to detect the accumulation of glycodelin in cells.


RESULTS
Little or no glycodelin message was detectable in the endothelial cells from human umbilical cord vein by RT-PCR and Southern blot analysis. However, these cells readily took up glycodelin protein and glycodelin-derived synthetic peptide from the medium.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence and accumulation of glycodelin in the umbilical cord might indicate their potential role in the survival of fetal tissue in the maternal environment.
Zhou
H M
HM
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Ramachandran
S
S
Kim
J G
JG
Raynor
D B
DB
Rock
J A
JA
Parthasarathy
S
S
D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases