title: Expression and localization of alpha-fetoprotein mRNA and protein in human early villous trophoblasts.
abstract: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a major plasma protein produced during human fetal life. It is a good marker for several possible disorders affecting gestation. We previously reported that afp gene expression, which takes place mainly in yolk sac and fetal liver, also occurs in normal human placenta, specifically in early pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to determine the precise location of AFP synthesis sites within the placental villi. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical experiments were performed on sections obtained from placentas of first-trimester and full-term pregnancies. We found that the pattern of afp gene expression was restricted to specific villous trophoblastic areas in early placentas. Both afp transcripts and AFP protein were mainly located in discontinuous regions, at junctions between two villi and at budding sites. In contrast, no AFP expression was detected in the cytotrophoblastic extravillous proliferative zone or in other placental cell types. According to the earlier studies, no AFP synthesis was detected in placental villous tissue from full-term pregnancies, using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.
authors.affiliation: Université Paris-Descartes/INSERM U.709, Génétique et Epigénétique des Pathologies Placentaires, GEPP, Institut Alfred Jost, Hôpital Cochin, Pavillon Baudelocque, 123 Boulevard de Port-Royal, 75014 Paris, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duc-Goiran
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Mignot
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Machavoine
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mondon
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hagneré
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vacher-Lavenu
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Danan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaiman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benassayag
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferré
mesh_terms: D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins