[Effects of exogenous tumor necrosis factor alpha on the invasiveness of human trophoblasts].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of exogenous tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and its polyclonal antibody (anti-TNF-alpha) on the invasiveness of human trophoblasts in vitro.


METHODS
The effect of exogenous TNF-alpha and anti-TNF-alpha on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) in human trophoblastic cells was investigated with reverse transcription (RT)-PCR (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
The trophoblasts cultured in vitro expressed MMP-2 but not TIMP-2. After incubation of the trophoblasts with 5 ng/ml TNF-alpha and TNF-alpha plus anti-TNF-alpha respectively for 48 h, significant elevation of MMP-2 expression was induced, while the reverse occurred following incubation of the cells with 50 ng/ml anti-TNF-alpha. None of the treatments induced TIMP-2 expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Exogenous TNF-alpha may promote the invasiveness of the trophoblasts, which can be inhibited by anti-TNF-alpha.
Chen
Hui
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. Chenhui175@163.com
Pang
Zhan-jun
ZJ
Chen
Shi-ling
SL
Xing
Fu-qi
FQ
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000235:genetics; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2