Interleukin-17 expression in the human placenta.
Interleukin (IL)-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine with pleiotropic activities including inducing neovascularization and production of proangiogenic molecules. As pregnancy outcome depends on the balance of Th1-like/Th2-like cytokines and an increased blood supply to the fetoplacental unit, the expression of IL-17 mRNA and protein in human placental tissues was investigated. IL-17 mRNA was expressed by purified cytokeratin-positive term placental trophoblast cells, HLA-G+ extravillous trophoblast cells and placental macrophages (Hofbauer cells). IL-17 localized in both cyto- and syncytiotrophoblasts of normal term pregnancy, spontaneous miscarriage and in molar pregnancy. In spontaneous miscarriage and molar pregnancy extravillous trophoblast cells were consistently immunoreactive for IL-17. IL-17 expression in human placenta may play a key role in angiogenesis and/or immunoregulation in the establishment of pregnancy.
Department of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand.
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S
Pongcharoen
J
J
Somran
S
S
Sritippayawan
P
P
Niumsup
P
P
Chanchan
P
P
Butkhamchot
P
P
Tatiwat
S
S
Kunngurn
R F
RF
Searle
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D020381:Interleukin-17; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger