Human trophoblast requires galectin-3 for cell migration and invasion.

Invasive extravillous cytotrophoblast of the human placenta expresses galectins-1, -3, and -8 in vivo and in vitro. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of galectin-3 in cell migration and invasion, using recombinant human galectin-3 (rhgalectin-3), small molecule galectin inhibitor I, and galectin-3 silencing. HTR-8/SVneo cell migration was stimulated by rhgalectin-3 and reduced by I, which could be neutralised by rhgalectin-3.

Pharmacological inhibition of MIF interferes with trophoblast cell migration and invasiveness.

Introduction: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is expressed by villous and extravillous cytotrophoblast. This study was aimed to investigate functional relevance of MIF for human trophoblast.

Methods: MIF mRNA and protein were documented in cytotrophoblast (CT) and extravillous trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo by RT-PCR, Western blot (WB), and immunocytochemistry.

Galectin-8 is expressed by villous and extravillous trophoblast of the human placenta.

Galectins (gals) as multifunctional animal lectins are of great potential significance for establishment and function of the placenta, due to their capacity to modulate cellular functions including proliferation, adhesion, and invasion. Human trophoblast is known to express gal-1, gal-3 and gal-13 proteins, as well as mRNAs for gal-14, -16 and -17. This study was undertaken to establish cellular distribution of gal-8, not previously associated with trophoblast, since we have recently detected gal-8 RNA and protein in cytotrophoblast cell material.

Expression of galectin-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen in the trophoblast of the gestational trophoblastic disease.

Purpose: Galectin-3, an endogenous beta-galactoside- binding protein, has been implicated in the regulation of many physiological and pathological cellular processes through specific interactions with complementary ligands. The level of galectin-3 expression has been correlated with metastatic potential in many tumor types. The present study was designed to investigate possible correlation of the expression of galectin-3 with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), one of the putative galectin-3 ligands, in the transformed trophoblast of the gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTDs) compared to the invasive trophoblast (interstitial and endovascular) of the normal first trimester of pregnancy placenta.

Carcinoembryonic antigen and related molecules in normal and transformed trophoblast.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA, CD66e) and CEA-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) are important mediators in remodeling of diverse human tissues, and modulators of cell proliferation and differentiation. Expression by normal and transformed trophoblast of gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTDs), isolated cytotrophoblast and choriocarcinoma cell lines is presented here. Immunocyto/histochemistry of normal placenta (n=9), invasive mole (n=8), choriocarcinoma (n=7), a placental site trophoblastic tumor, cytotrophoblast in primary culture and JAr and JEG-3 cells was performed using polyclonal anti-CEA and specific monoclonal anti-CEA antibodies.

Galectin-1 and galectin-3 in the trophoblast of the gestational trophoblastic disease.

While the presence and distribution of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in different normal trophoblast cell populations is known, no information is available regarding their occurrence in malignant trophoblast of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). Galectins-1 and -3 have, however, been implicated in malignancies of other tissues. Immunoreactivity for these galectins in the transformed trophoblast of invasive mole (n = 8), choriocarcinoma (n = 7) and one case of placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) was compared to that of the invasive trophoblast of the normal first trimester of pregnancy implantation sites (n = 9).

Coincubation--an experimental approach to the study of decidual-trophoblast interaction.

Coincubation of trophoblast and decidual tissue explants was used for the study of placental-endometrial interaction in early pregnancy. To this end two types of experiments were performed: coincubation with (type A) and without (type B) direct tissue contact. The rate of incorporation of [14C]leucine into cytosol proteins in both tissues was employed for the estimation of total protein synthesis.