Comparative study on the effect of integrin αvβ3 on secretion of matrix metalloproteinases in human normal and carcinoma trophoblasts

The invasion of cytotrophoblast cells into the maternal endometrium during embryonic implantation is very similar to the metastasis of carcinoma cells. However, the significant difference is that the former is a highly controlled process. In this report, the effects of integrin αvβ3 on the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) were compared between normal cytotrophoblast cells and choriocarcinoma cells by RT-PCR, gelatin zymography and immunocytochemistry. The results reveal that both normal cytotrophoblast cells and choriocarcinoma cells can express integrin αvβ3. The secretion of MMPs in normal cytotrophoblast ceils is up-regulated by anti-αvβ3 antibody, whereas, decreased in choriocarcinoma cells. It was suggested that αvβ3 can modulate the expression of MMPs in trophoblasts, and this action is carried out through distinct mechanisms in normal and carcinoma cytotrophoblast cells.     

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-28 in human normal cytotrophoblast cells and a choriocarcinoma cell line,JEG-3

There are striking similiarities present between the behavior of invasive placental cells and that of invasive cancer cells. Matrix metalioproteinases (MMPs) are one of the most important mediators. MMP-28, the new member ofMMPs, was sequenced and identified recently. Expression of MMP-28 mRNA and protein in the cytotrophoblast cells anda choriocarcinoma cell line, JEG-3 cell, was conducted by zymography, RT-PCR and Northern blot. There is MMP-28mRNA expression in both the cytotrophoblast cells and JEG-3 cells by RT-PCR. The activity of MMP-28 in cytotrophoblast cells was significantly weaker than that in JEG-3 (P < 0.01) by zymography. Furthermore, mRNA expression of MMP-28 was significantly stronger (P < 0.001) in JEG-3than in human cytotrophoblast cells in a time-dependent way by Northern Blot. Our results suggest that MMP-28 may play a role in some of the tissue-remodeling events associated with normal pregnancy and tumor progression.``