title: Differential expression of LIGHT and its receptors in human placental villi and amniochorion membranes.
abstract: mRNA encoding LIGHT (homologous to lymphotoxins, exhibits inducible expression, competes with herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D for HVEM, a receptor expressed by T lymphocytes), a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily of ligands, as well as mRNAs encoding LIGHT receptors [HVEM, LTbetaR, and TR6 (DcR3)] are present in placentas and cytotrophoblast cells at term. To establish translation of these messages and determine directions for functional studies, term placentas, amniochorion membranes, and purified cytotrophoblast cells were evaluated by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Ligand and receptor proteins were identified in lysates from all three sources although the soluble receptor, TR6, was scarce in placentas and all receptors were in low abundance in cytotrophoblast cells. These results were confirmed and cell type-specific expression was documented by immunohistochemistry. Ligand and receptor proteins were differentially expressed according to cell type. For example, HVEM was identified on syncytiotrophoblast but not in villous mesenchymal cells; amnion epithelial cells were positive for all proteins whereas chorion membrane cytotrophoblasts exhibited none. Because LIGHT is a powerful cytokine that can alter gene expression and promote apoptosis, these experiments suggest that ligand-receptor interactions may critically influence structural and functional aspects of human placentas through as yet undefined autocrine/paracrine pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160-7400, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Joan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053259:Lymphotoxin beta Receptor; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D053240:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14; D053323:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D053326:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 14; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C505697:LTBR protein, human; D053259:Lymphotoxin beta Receptor; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D053240:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14; D053323:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b; D011991:Receptors, Virus; C506028:TNFRSF14 protein, human; C505911:TNFRSF6B protein, human; C505914:TNFSF14 protein, human; D053326:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 14; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha