GATA-2 restricts prolactin-like protein A expression to secondary trophoblast giant cells in the mouse.
An analysis of the pattern of expression of the mouse placental hormone prolactin-like protein A (PLP-A) has revealed that this hormone is expressed exclusively in secondary trophoblast giant cells but not in primary giant cells. Thus, PLP-A serves as a marker for a subset of giant cells. Recent results have indicated that PLP-A binds to and inhibits the activity of natural killer cells, and thus, the localized expression of PLP-A may be important for regulating the activity of this class of T lymphocytes in a restricted region of the implantation site. Previous studies indicated that the transcription factor GATA-2 is required for the trophoblast giant cell-specific expression of two other hormones in the prolactin family, placental lactogen I and proliferin. In the absence of GATA-2, PLP-A continues to be expressed, but in this mutant background, PLP-A mRNA is detected in both primary and secondary giant cells. Thus, GATA-2 contributes both to positive and negative regulation of trophoblast giant cell-specific gene expression, and this factor apparently plays an important role in generating or maintaining the distinct functions of secondary, compared with primary, trophoblast giant cells.
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Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
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D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000737:chemistry*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; C494712:Gata2 protein, mouse; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C502142:Prlpa protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C085699:placental lactogen I, rat; D010928:Placental Lactogen