Glycodelin protein and mRNA is downregulated in human first trimester abortion and partially upregulated in mole pregnancy.
Glycodelin (Gd) is a major reproductive glycoprotein and a mediator for immunomodulatory effects directed to cellular, humoral, and innate immunity. Human pregnancy depends on a diversity of physiological processes including modulation of the maternal immunosystem. We evaluated the expression of Gd protein and mRNA in first trimester decidual tissue of normal pregnancies and spontaneous abortion and hydatidiform moles. Furthermore, in vitro experiments on endometrial cancer cells to analyze the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on Gd regulation were performed. In decidual tissue of abortion patients, Gd expression was significantly decreased compared with normal gestation, which was confirmed by in situ hybridization. In mole pregnancy, an upregulation of Gd in the first 8 weeks of pregnancy was present. Gd is a main product of decidual tissue in the first trimester of human pregnancy. Reduced Gd expression in abortive pregnancy could lead to an increased activation of the maternal immunosystem, thus causing rejection of the developing fetus. Moreover, Gd expression in endometrial cancer cells in vitro could be stimulated by addition of hCG. Therefore, we speculate that hCG could be one of the factors regulating Gd expression because hCG is downregulated in women with abortion and upregulated in mole pregnancy. In addition, we found a positive feedback loop in Gd and hCG expression in human pregnancy.
Toth
Bettina
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology-Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Maistrasse 11, D-80337 Munich, Germany.
Roth
Karin
K
Kunert-Keil
Christiane
C
Scholz
Christoph
C
Schulze
Sandra
S
Mylonas
Ioannis
I
Friese
Klaus
K
Jeschke
Udo
U
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger