Interleukin-17 Expression in the Human Placenta

• Published in: Placenta (Eastbourne) 2007-01, Vol.28 (1), p.59-63
• Main Authors: Pongcharoen, S, Somran, J, Sritippayawan, S, Niumsup, P, Chanchan, P, Butkhamchot, P, Tatiwat, P, Kunngurn, S, Searle, R.F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; Human; Humans; IL-17 expression; IL-17 mRNA; Interleukin-17 - metabolism; Internal Medicine; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Placenta; Placenta - chemistry; Placenta - metabolism; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Proteins - analysis; RNA, Messenger - analysis
• ISSN: 0143-4004; 1532-3102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2006.01.016

Abstract Interleukin (IL)-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine with pleiotropic activities including inducing neovascularization and production of proangiogenic molecules. As pregnancy outcome depends on the balance of Th1-like/Th2-like cytokines and an increased blood supply to the fetoplacental unit, the expression of IL-17 mRNA and protein in human placental tissues was investigated. IL-17 mRNA was expressed by purified cytokeratin-positive term placental trophoblast cells, HLA-G+ extravillous trophoblast cells and placental macrophages (Hofbauer cells). IL-17 localized in both cyto- and syncytiotrophoblasts of normal term pregnancy, spontaneous miscarriage and in molar pregnancy. In spontaneous miscarriage and molar pregnancy extravillous trophoblast cells were consistently immunoreactive for IL-17. IL-17 expression in human placenta may play a key role in angiogenesis and/or immunoregulation in the establishment of pregnancy.