Human amniotic fluid glycoproteins expressing sialyl Lewis carbohydrate antigens stimulate progesterone production in human trophoblasts in vitro.
BACKGROUND
Progesterone is thought to mediate immune modulator effects by regulating uterine responsiveness. The aim of the study was to clarify the effect of transferrin and glycodelin A (former name PP14) as sialyl Lewis X-expressing glycoproteins on the release of progesterone by trophoblast cells in vitro.


METHODS
Cytotrophoblast cells were prepared from human term placentas by standard dispersion of villous tissue followed by a Percoll gradient centrifugation step. Trophoblasts were incubated with varying concentrations (50-300 microg/ml) of human amniotic fluid- and serum-transferrin as well as with glycodelin A. Culture supernatants were assayed for progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and cortisol by enzyme immunometric methods.


RESULTS
The release of progesterone is increased in amniotic fluid transferrin- and glycodelin A-treated trophoblast cell cultures compared to untreated trophoblast cells. There is no relation between transferrin and the hCG or cortisol production of trophoblast cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that sialyl Lewis carbohydrate antigen-expressing amniotic fluid glycoproteins modulate the endocrine function of trophoblasts in culture by upregulating progesterone production.
1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Maistrasse 11, DE-80337 Munich, Germany. jeschke@med.uni-muenchen.de
Udo
U
Jeschke
Ioannis
I
Mylonas
Dagmar-Ulrike
DU
Richter
Annett
A
Streu
Heiner
H
Müller
Volker
V
Briese
Klaus
K
Friese
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; D014168:Transferrin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; D014168:Transferrin; D011374:Progesterone