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Reciprocal chemokine receptor and ligand expression in the human placenta: Implications for cytotrophoblast differentiation
Author(s) -
Drake Penelope M.,
RedHorse Kristy,
Fisher Susan J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.10477
Subject(s) - biology , cytotrophoblast , microbiology and biotechnology , decidua , trophoblast , chemokine , placenta , paracrine signalling , immunology , chemokine receptor , stromal cell , population , receptor , fetus , immune system , genetics , cancer research , pregnancy , demography , sociology
At the onset of pregnancy, the human placenta, which forms the interface between the embryo/fetus and the mother, must rapidly develop into a life‐sustaining organ. The many unusual processes entailed in placental development include the poorly understood phenomenon of maternal tolerance of the hemiallogeneic cells of the conceptus, including, most remarkably, placental trophoblasts that invade the uterine wall. To investigate whether this fetal organ exerts control over the maternal immune system at the level of leukocyte trafficking, we examined placental expression of chemokines, well‐known cytokine regulators of leukocyte movements. In situ hybridization revealed abundant expression of 13 chemokines in the stromal but not the trophoblast compartment of chorionic villi. Potential roles for these molecules include recruitment of the resident macrophage (Hofbauer cell) population to the villi. In parallel, cytotrophoblast production of a panel of nine chemokine receptors was assessed by using RNase protection assays. The numerous receptors detected suggested the novel possibility that the paracrine actions of chemokine ligands derived from either the villous stroma or the decidua could mediate general aspects of placental development, with specific contributions to cytotrophoblast differentiation along the pathway that leads to uterine invasion. Developmental Dynamics 229:877–885, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.