Induction and postranslational expression of G-CSF and RANTES in a first trimester trophoblast cell line by lipopolysaccharide.

Abstract

Comparatively little is known about the capacity of first trimester trophoblasts to respond to an infection and coordinate an immune response. This study characterizes the LPS induction of G-CSF and RANTES in a first trimester trophoblast cell line. HTR-8/SV neo cells were exposed to LPS (1 micrograms/ml) for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours in DMEM-Ham's F-12 media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Cytokine levels in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. Northern analysis of total RNA was conducted using antisense cytokine probes. Levels of immunoreactive G-CSF and RANTES from LPS induced cultures at 24 hours were 10-fold and 8.5-fold greater than cytokine levels from non-induced cells at 24 hours, respectively (P < 0.01). Under LPS induction, maximal rates of G-CSF and RANTES transcription occurred at 24 hours and 8 hours, respectively. The LPS induction of proinflammatory cytokines in a first trimester trophoblast cell line supports the contention that first trimester trophoblasts participate in cytokine based immune signaling in response to infection.