Effects of interleukin-6 on extravillous trophoblast invasion in early human pregnancy

Date

2012

Authors

Champion, Hedele
Innes, Barbara
Robson, Stephen
Lash, Gendie
Bulmer, Judith

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Abstract

Invasion of uterine tissues by extravillous trophoblast cells (EVT) is essential for successful human pregnancy. EVT invasion is tightly regulated by a number of factors, including growth factors and cytokines, but the mechanisms that underlie their regulatory effect remain poorly understood. Interleukin (IL)-6 has been suggested to play a role in controlling EVT invasion. We hypothesized that IL-6 produced by cells in uterine decidua would regulate EVT invasiveness via IL-6Ra and gp130 receptors expressed by trophoblast cells. The effect of IL-6 on EVT signalling and cytokine production was also studied. Supernatants from disaggregated ‘total’ decidual cells, CD8+ T cells, CD10+ decidual stromal cells, CD14 macrophages, CD56+ uterine natural killer cells, cytotrophoblast and EVT cells contained large quantities of IL-6 protein at both 8–10 and 12 –14 weeks gestational age. IL-6Ra and gp130 were immunolocalized to EVT in placental bed biopsies from 8 to 20 weeks gestation and IL-6Ra expression was confirmed by western blotting. IL-6 had no effect on the invasive potential of EVT from chorionic villi or the immortalized EVT cell line HTR-8/SVneo in a Matrigelw invasion assay. IL-6 stimulated phosphorylation of several cell signalling proteins in EVT (8–14 weeks’ gestation), although significance was lost after correction for multiple comparisons. Incubation with IL-6 decreased secretion of regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) by EVT cells. In conclusion, although IL-6 did not affect trophoblast cell invasion, it stimulated EVT cellular cascades and inhibited secretion of RANTES involved in a number of cellular processes.

Description

Keywords

trophoblast invasion, pregnancy, EVT, IL-6

Citation

Source

Molecular Human Reproduction

Type

Journal article

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Restricted until

2099-12-31

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