title: Human endogenous retrovirus-W envelope (syncytin) is expressed in both villous and extravillous trophoblast populations.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Research Group in Human Reproductive Immunobiology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Level 5, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK.
authors.forename: A M L
authors.initials: AML
authors.lastname: Lever
authors.affiliation: Research Group in Human Reproductive Immunobiology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moffett
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015686:Gene Products, env; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C405335:syncytin