Is interleukin-3 important in antiphospholipid antibody-mediated pregnancy failure?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of interleukin-3 (IL-3) on trophoblast proliferation and expression of beta2-glycoprotein I.


METHODS
In vitro cell culture using primary trophoblasts and the cell lines Jeg-3, Jar, and BeWo.


METHODS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland.


METHODS
Women with normal pregnancies.


METHODS
Increasing amounts of IL-3 were added to cultures of primary human trophoblasts, cell lines, or cells treated with a proliferation inhibiting antiphospholipid-like antibody. RNA was extracted from primary human trophoblasts or cell lines.


METHODS
We examined basal and IL-3-stimulated cellular proliferation by [3H] thymidine incorporation assay and secretion of beta2-glycoprotein I into culture medium by semiquantitative immunoblot analysis. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to demonstrate the presence of IL-3 receptor transcripts.


RESULTS
The IL-3 treatment did not induce proliferation of highly purified primary trophoblast cultures or cell lines but did induce proliferation of contaminating CD45+ cells in trophoblast cultures. The IL-3 did not overcome the antiproliferative effect of an antiphospholipid-like monoclonal antibody on trophoblast. Secretion of beta2-glycoprotein I by trophoblast cultures was time dependent but unaltered by IL-3 treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results question the proposed importance of IL-3 in antiphospholipid antibody-mediated fetal death.
Chamley
L W
LW
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland, National Women's Hospital, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand. l.chamley@auckland.ac.nz
Konarkowska
B
B
Duncalf
A M
AM
Mitchell
M D
MD
Johnson
P M
PM
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016185:Receptors, Interleukin-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I
D000906:Antibodies; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007377:Interleukin-3; D016185:Receptors, Interleukin-3; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I