1,720,994 research outputs found

    Hormone and cytokine interaction in human trophoblast cells

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    Blastocyst implantation and maintenance of pregnancy involve a series of events involving endocrine and paracrine factors. In particular, hormones and cytokines appear to be very important in creating the environment essential for placenta establishment. In this study we investigated the effect of 17β-Estradiol (E2) on the secretion of the Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF), a pro-inflammatory cytokine highly involved in the early stages of pregnancy. By using the HTR8/SVneo cells we performed dose-response experiments with E2 concentrations ranging from 10-15 to 10-5M. We found that 10-10 and 10-13M E2 were the highest and the lowest concentrations having significant effect respectively reducing and increasing MIF levels in the culture media. Treatment with ER antagonists ICI 182 780 restored MIF levels in E2-treated samples to those of controls. These findings support interaction between hormones and cytokines in human trophoblast cells and show that MIF release is hormone receptor-dependent

    The environmental chemical Bisphenol-A interferes with the action of 17 β-estradiol in human trophoblast

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    Problem: normal placental development is a fundamental process for pregnancy success and foetal health. We recently demonstrated that environment polluting chemicals can affect this process. In the present study we investigated the potential of these chemicals to interfere with the hormone-action thus, acting as endocrine disruptors. Specifically we studied the effect of bisphenol-A (BPA), an estrogen-like chemical largely used in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Methods: trophoblast-like BeWo cell lines and primary cultures of chorionic villous explants from human placenta were exposed to 17 β-estradiol (E2) and BPA alone or to their combination for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cells and tissues were analyzed for human beta-Chorionic Gonadotropin, β-hCG production. Results: the results showed that BPA interferes with the action of the endogenous hormone E2 mainly reducing β-hCG secretion at E2 concentrations ranging from 1 nM - 1 pM corresponding to those occurring in the maternal blood in the early stages of pregnancy. Conclusions: these findings highlight marked effects of BPA on trophoblast cell endocrine function and raise concern about the negative, potential effects on mammalian females during early pregnancy

    Hormone-like chemicals-cytokine interaction in the human chorionic villous explants

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    Problem: hormones and cytokines acting locally at the maternal fetal interface are believed to play a major role in establishing the immune privilege of pregnancy. Numerous studies show that environment polluting chemicals can interfere with the action of natural hormones and therefore with the secretion of cytokines. In this study we investigated the effect of para-nonylphenol (p-NP), an environmental chemical with estrogenic activity as well as 17-Estradiol (E2) on human chorionic villous explants. Specifically we investigated the role of p-NP and E2 on the secretion of MIF (Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor), a cytokine highly present in placental tissues mainly in the early stages of pregnancy. Methods: chorionic villous explants from first trimester human placenta were exposed to E2 or p-NP for 48 hours and then, analysed for MIF expression and its secretion in the culture medium. The membrane transporter, ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) was also investigated for its activity in MIF secretion. Results: the results showed that both, p-NP and E2, significantly reduced MIF release by reducing the expression of ABCA1. Activity of p-NP was however much more potent than that of E2 since producing the same effect at much lower concentration, 1 nM (p-NP ) vs 10 mM (E2). No changes were observed in tissue MIF protein and mRNA content for any treatment
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