Expression of serum amyloid A4 in human trophoblast-like choriocarcinoma cell lines and human first trimester/term trophoblast cells.

Trophoblast invasion into uterine tissues represents a hallmark of first trimester placental development. As expression of serum amyloid A4 (SAA4) occurs in tumorigenic and invasive tissues we here investigated whether SAA4 is present in trophoblast-like human AC1-M59/Jeg-3 cells and trophoblast preparations of human first trimester and term placenta. SAA4 mRNA was expressed in non-stimulated and cytokine-treated AC1-M59/Jeg-3 cells.

Multifunctional Poly(2-oxazoline) Nanoparticles for Biological Applications.

New multifunctional copoly(2-oxazoline) nanoparticles were prepared for cell studies. The polymer contains double-bond side chains as potential reaction sites for "thio"-click reactions as well as a fluorescein label covalently bound to the polymer backbone. Using the nanoprecipitation technique, spherical nanoparticles of 200-800 nm were obtained.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS3) balance controls cytotoxicity and IL-10 expression in decidual-like natural killer cell line NK-92.

OBJECTIVES  In previous studies, we have shown that sHLA-G reduces cytotoxicity of decidual NK cells, which was dependent upon reduction in signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and perforin. In this study, we aimed to confirm the role of STAT3 for induction of cytotoxicity and to analyze the regulative role of its antagonist suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3). Furthermore, the influence of both factors on cytokine expression should be analyzed.

Cell-specific RNA interference by peptide-inhibited-peptidase-activated siRNAs.

The use of chemically-synthesized short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) is the key method of choice to manipulate gene expression in mammalian cell cultures and in vivo. Several previous studies have aimed at inducing cell-specific RNA interference (RNAi) in order to use siRNA molecules as therapeutic reagents. Here, we used peptide-inhibited siRNAs that were activated after cleavage by cell-specific peptidases.

Role of regulatory and angiogenic cytokines in invasion of trophoblastic cells.

Problem: Trophoblast invasion is a temporally and locally restricted process, which regulates implantation and oxygen arrival to the embryo through the dialog with spiral artery endothelium. Trophoblast factors with angiogenic potential are activated by hypoxia. Their capacities to induce proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblastic cells have been investigated.