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Differential Gene Expression of TGF‐β Isoforms and TGF‐β Receptors During the First Trimester of Pregnancy at the Human Maternal‐Fetal Interface
Author(s) -
ANDO NORIKO,
HIRAHARA FUMIKI,
FUKUSHIMA JUN,
KAWAMOTO SUSUMU,
OKUDA KENJI,
FUNABASHI TOSHIYA,
GORAI ITSUO,
MINAGUCHI HIROSHI
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1998.tb00388.x
Subject(s) - decidualization , decidual cells , biology , placentation , fetus , decidua , in situ hybridization , endocrinology , medicine , gene isoform , transforming growth factor beta , endometrium , gene expression , transforming growth factor , receptor , pregnancy , andrology , placenta , gene , genetics
PROBLEM: The transforming growth factor (TGF)‐βs 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‐β1, ‐β2, and ‐β3 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‐β was expressed in both decidual and villous tissues. Because most TGF‐β1 gene expression was found in villous tissues, TGF‐β2 mRNA was expressed preferentially in the decidual tissues. TGF‐β3 transcripts were expressed in the nonpregnant endometrium. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that each isoform of TGF‐β plays some specific role in decidualization and placentation. Furthermore, it is predicted that they regulate the maternal‐fetal interaction at early gestation.