Abstract |
Cytokines produced at the fetal-maternal interface play a key role in regulating maternal tolerance to the fetus and successful pregnancy. Previously, we showed that EBV-induced gene 3 (EBI3), an interleukin (IL)-12 p40 homologue, was expressed at very high levels by syncytiotrophoblasts and extravillous trophoblasts throughout human pregnancy. EBI3 was recently shown to associate with a novel ligand, p28, to form a new heterodimeric cytokine with important immunoregulatory functions, IL-27. In this study, we investigated whether EBI3 expression by trophoblast cells is associated with that of p28 to form IL-27. We found that genes encoding IL-27 (EBI3 and p28) and its receptor (IL-27R and gp130) were expressed in the placenta at various stages of pregnancy. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments performed from placental lysates, and ELISA of culture supernatants from placental explants, showed that IL-27 heterodimer was produced and released from placental cells. In situ studies of placentae of first, second and third trimester of pregnancy, and of choriocarcinomas, demonstrated that syncytiotrophoblast cells co-expressed EBI3 and p28. Similarly, extravillous trophoblast cells invading the decidua were found to co-express both subunits of IL-27. These data suggest that IL-27 may be part of the cytokine network regulating local immune responses and angiogenesis during human pregnancy.
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Authors | A Coulomb-L'Herminé, F Larousserie, S Pflanz, E Bardel, R A Kastelein, O Devergne |
Journal | Placenta
(Placenta)
Vol. 28
Issue 11-12
Pg. 1133-40
( 2007)
ISSN: 0143-4004 [Print] Netherlands |
PMID | 17659773
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- EBI3 protein, human
- IL27RA protein, human
- Interleukin-17
- Interleukins
- MYDGF protein, human
- Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
- Receptors, Interleukin
- RNA
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Topics |
- Blotting, Western
- Cells, Cultured
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
(genetics, immunology)
- Gestational Age
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Interleukin-17
(genetics, metabolism)
- Interleukins
(genetics, metabolism)
- Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
- Placenta
(immunology)
- Pregnancy
- RNA
(biosynthesis)
- Receptors, Interleukin
(genetics, metabolism)
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Trophoblasts
(cytology, immunology)
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