This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mandl, M Articles by Desoye, G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mandl, M Articles by Desoye, G

Differential glucocorticoid effects on proliferation and invasion of human trophoblast cell lines

¹ Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical-University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, A-8036, Graz, Austria and ² Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Karl-Franzens-University, Graz, Austria

Correspondence should be addressed to G Desoye; Email: gernot.desoye{at}meduni-graz.at

Several clinical situations require continuous glucocorticoid (GC) treatment during pregnancy. A well-known deleterious side effect of such treatment is the higher incidence of growth-restricted fetuses, for which a too shallow trophoblast invasion is presently hypothesised as the underlying cause. This study investigated whether the synthetic GC triamcinolone acetonide (TA) influences proliferation, invasion and endocrine activity of human trophoblast. BeWo and JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell lines both express GC receptors (western blotting) and were used as models for human trophoblast. JAR devoid cells of GC receptor were used as negative control. The cells were cultured for 48 h without (control) or with 0.5, 5 and 50 µM TA. In the presence and absence of serum, proliferation was determined by cell counting and measuring the cell cycle regulating protein cyclin B1 (Western blotting); invasion was determined by a conventional Matrigel invasion assay and by measuring the secretion (ELISA) of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9) into the culture medium; endocrine activity was assessed by measuring the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (ELISA) into the culture medium. TA altered the number of viable and dead cells as well as cyclin B1 levels and, to a lesser extent, invasion of BeWo and JEG-3, with a strong influence of serum. BeWo and JEG-3 cells reacted differently and in most instances reverse. In the cell lines used as models of human trophoblast, TA alter some functions relevant to proliferation and invasion, and suggest that caution should be exercised when treating women with GCs during pregnancy.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. E. Michael and A. T. Papageorghiou Potential significance of physiological and pharmacological glucocorticoids in early pregnancy Hum. Reprod. Update, September 1, 2008; 14(5): 497 - 517. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Hillegass, C. M. Villano, K. R. Cooper, and L. A. White Glucocorticoids Alter Craniofacial Development and Increase Expression and Activity of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Developing Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Toxicol. Sci., April 1, 2008; 102(2): 413 - 424. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.K. Harris, R.J. Keogh, M. Wareing, P.N. Baker, J.E. Cartwright, G.S. Whitley, and J.D. Aplin BeWo cells stimulate smooth muscle cell apoptosis and elastin breakdown in a model of spiral artery transformation Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2007; 22(11): 2834 - 2841. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. U. Baumann, S. Zamudio, and N. P. Illsley Hypoxic upregulation of glucose transporters in BeWo choriocarcinoma cells is mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1 Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, July 1, 2007; 293(1): C477 - C485. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]