Differential gene expression of TGF-beta isoforms and TGF-beta receptors during the first trimester of pregnancy at the human maternal-fetal interface.

Problem: The transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta s are multifunctional cytokines, and they play a role in the controlled growth of trophoblasts. Moreover they are thought to be important in maternal-fetal interaction during early gestation.

Method Of Study: Human decidual and villous tissues in the first trimester were Northern blotted and amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to measure the expression of TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3 and their receptors, types I and II, at the first trimester of pregnancy. In addition, their cell-specific expression at the maternal-fetal interface was determined by in situ hybridization.

Results: Each isoform of TGF-beta was expressed in both decidual and villous tissues. Because most TGF-beta 1 gene expression was found in villous tissues, TGF-beta 2 mRNA was expressed preferentially in the decidual tissues. TGF-beta 3 transcripts were expressed in the nonpregnant endometrium.

Conclusions: The results suggest that each isoform of TGF-beta plays some specific role in decidualization and placentation. Furthermore, it is predicted that they regulate the maternal-fetal interaction at early gestation.