Glycodelin A and differentiation of first trimester trophoblast cells in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
The glycoprotein, glycodelin A (GdA) is a main product of the maternal decidua in the first trimester of pregnancy and is secreted into the amniotic fluid. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of GdA on secretion and surface markers of isolated first trimester trophoblasts in vitro.


METHODS
Cytotrophoblasts were prepared from human first trimester placentae and incubated with varying concentrations of GdA or transfected separately with the expression plasmid of GdA. Supernatants were assayed for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) protein concentrations. Expression of human placental lactogen (hPL), mucin 1 (MUC1) and the Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) epitope was analysed in stimulated trophoblast cells and in unstimulated controls by immunocytochemistry.


RESULTS
Glycodelin A induced a reduced expression of hPL compared with unstimulated controls. Expression of MUC1 was not affected by GdA. Freshly isolated trophoblast cells showed no TF expression but became positive for this antigen after 96 h of cultivation. GdA-stimulated trophoblast cells inhibited TF expression after 96 h of cultivation. GdA plasmids induced a significantly higher hCG production in transfected cells than in cells transfected with the empty plasmid.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained in this study suggest that GdA is involved in the differentiation of trophoblast cells. The treatment of GdA plasmid transfected trophoblast cells stimulated hCG production in isolated trophoblast cells and inhibited hPL and TF expression, suggesting a functional link between hCG and GdA.
Jeschke
U
U
First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Maistrasse 11, 80337, Munich, Germany. udo.jeschke@med.uni-muenchen.de
Richter
D-U
DU
Reimer
T
T
Bergemann
C
C
Briese
V
V
Karsten
U
U
Mylonas
I
I
Kupka
M S
MS
Wiest
I
I
Friese
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D014162:Transfection; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D000941:Antigens; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C016467:Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen; D010928:Placental Lactogen