title: Local fetal signal is not required for maintaining IGFBP gene expression in the human decidua: evidence from extrauterine pregnancies.
abstract: Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) from the invading extravillous cytotrophoblasts (EVTs) and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) from the maternal decidua interact at the feto-maternal interface and regulate implantation and placentation. To determine whether a local stimulus from the fetus is important in the regulation of IGFBP gene expression in the human decidua, we compared the expression of IGFBP genes in intra- and extrauterine (tubal) pregnancies. The expression of IGF-II and IGFBP-1 to IGFBP-6 mRNAs was determined by in-situ hybridization in the Fallopian tubes of extrauterine pregnancies and concurrent decidua (n = 6), and in the placentae and Fallopian tubes of intrauterine pregnancies (n = 6). All six IGFBP mRNAs were identified in the decidualized endometrium and decidualized Fallopian tubes of intra- and extrauterine pregnancies, with IGFBP-1 mRNA being the predominant mRNA. IGFBP-4 was the second most predominant mRNA and was slightly more abundant in the decidua of extrauterine pregnancies than of intrauterine pregnancies. IGF-II mRNA was expressed mainly in cells of fetal origin. The fact that the IGFBP mRNAs were expressed similarly in both intra- and extrauterine pregnancies indicates that the local physical stimulus from an implanting fetus is not necessary to induce or maintain decidual IGFBP gene expression.
authors.affiliation: MRC Group in Fetal and Neonatal Health and Development, The Lawson Research Institute, The Child Health Research Institute, London, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zygmunt
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mazzuca
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II