Functional regulation of thymic stromal lymphopoietin on proliferation and invasion of trophoblasts in human first-trimester pregnancy.
BACKGROUND
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a novel cytokine that triggers the dendritic cell-mediated T(H)2 response and regulatory T cell expansion. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether TSLP and TSLP receptor (TSLPR) are expressed in primary human extravillous trophoblast (EVT), how proimflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-1beta), T(H)2 and T(H)3 cytokines (IL-4, TGF-beta) and pregnancy-associated hormones regulate TSLP production by EVT and whether the SLP-TSLPR interaction affects the biological behavior of trophoblsts.


METHODS
We assessed TSLP mRNA and protein expression by real-time RT-PCR, ELISA and immunochemistry, respectively. We further investigated effects of TSLP on the proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells in vitro.


RESULTS
The primary EVTs constitutively expressed TSLP and TSLPR. IL-4 and TNF-alpha or pregnancy-associated hormones result in a significant increase in TSLP mRNA expression and protein release from EVT, and TSLP promotes primary EVT proliferation and invasion in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has demonstrated that the first-trimester human trophoblast cells express TSLP and TSLPR, that cytokine milieu which mimics the maternal-fetal interface modulates expression of TSLP in trophoblast and that TSLP stimulates trophoblast proliferation and invasion. This suggests that TSLP plays an important role in human EVT invasion and placentation in human early pregnancy.
Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Hospital and Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IBS, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200011, China.
Hai-Xia
HX
Wu
Pei-Fen
PF
Guo
Li-Ping
LP
Jin
Shan-Shan
SS
Liang
Da-Jin
DJ
Li
D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D010929:Placentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D055815:Young Adult; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
C498762:CRLF2 protein, human; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; C508598:IL4 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin