title: Expression of serum amyloid A transcripts in human trophoblast and fetal-derived trophoblast-like choriocarcinoma cells.
abstract: The placenta comprises a highly specialized trophoblast layer, which arises from the embryo and differentiates during embryonic development to perform specialized functions, e.g., synthesis of pregnancy-associated hormones, growth factors and cytokines. As there is no evidence of maternal acute-phase protein transplacental transfer and trophoblast plays an important role in regulating immune responses at the feto-maternal interface, the expression of acute-phase serum amyloid A (A-SAA) was investigated in human first trimester trophoblast and trophoblast-like JAR and Jeg-3 choriocarcinoma cells. We here show expression of cytokine receptors and cytokine-dependent induction of A-SAA in JAR and Jeg-3 cells. While interleukin-1alpha/beta is a major agonist for A-SAA expression in JAR, tumor necrosis factor-alpha is the predominant agonist in Jeg-3. First trimester trophoblast and JAR/Jeg-3 cells further express the human homolog of SAA-activating factor-1, a transcription factor involved in cytokine-mediated induction of A-SAA genes. A-SAA1 and A-SAA2 transcripts were increased in first trimester trophoblast during pregnancy weeks 10 and 12 suggesting that A-SAA plays a role during early fetal development.
authors.affiliation: Medical University Graz, Center of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, A-8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Alenka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovacevic
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sundl
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pfister
authors.forename: Andelko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hrzenjak
authors.forename: Alpana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Bimal K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sattler
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Malle
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha