title: Dystroglycan expression in human placenta: basement membrane localization and subunit distribution change between the first and third trimester.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes the distribution of dystroglycan (DG) in human placenta, membranes, and uterine decidua.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dystroglycan expression was characterized by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence microscopy using human tissues and cultured cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both α-DG and β-DG are expressed in the term syncytiotrophoblast, and α-DG is localized to the basement membrane. In first-trimester chorionic villi, α-DG and β-DG are localized to the periphery of the cytotrophoblast. Expression varies in term fetal membranes. α-Dystroglycan is not detectable in choriocarcinoma cells or HTR cells, but β-DG is present in both normal and cleaved forms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dystroglycan is expressed at high levels in human trophoblasts, and localization of the α- and β-subunits varies with gestational age and trophoblast differentiation. Because DG expression inversely correlates with invasiveness in many cancers, its pattern of expression in trophoblasts suggests a possible function in inhibition of placental invasion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. rmstreet@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Reagan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Street
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mucowski
authors.forename: Rheann
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urrabaz-Garza
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Boyle
authors.forename: Russell R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Regan N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Theiler
mesh_terms: D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D049030:Dystroglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport
chemical_list: C483081:DAG1 protein, human; D021122:Protein Subunits; D049030:Dystroglycans