Human endogenous retrovirus-W envelope (syncytin) is expressed in both villous and extravillous trophoblast populations.
The placenta is unique amongst normal tissues in transcribing numerous different human endogenous retroviruses at high levels. In this study, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate the expression of syncytin in human trophoblast. Syncytin transcripts were found in first-trimester trophoblast cells with both villous and extravillous phenotypes and also in the JAR and JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell lines. Syncytin protein was detected in villous trophoblast and in all extravillous trophoblast subpopulations of first- and second-trimester placental tissues. It was also present in ectopic trophoblast from tubal implantations. This study confirms that syncytin is expressed widely by a variety of normal human trophoblast populations, as well as choriocarcinoma cell lines.
Muir
A
A
Research Group in Human Reproductive Immunobiology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
Lever
A M L
AML
Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Level 5, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK.
Moffett
A
A
Research Group in Human Reproductive Immunobiology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology
D015686:Gene Products, env; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C405335:syncytin