Dodeur M, Mensier A, Alsat E, Bellet D, Bidart J M, Evain-Brion D
CNRS-URA 1337, ENS, Laboratoire de Physiopathologie du Développement, Paris, France.
Reprod Nutr Dev. 1991;31(3):275-85. doi: 10.1051/rnd:19910309.
Our previous study on teratocarcinoma cells suggested the role of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) in early development of the placenta. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible role of hPTH on the functions of first trimester trophoblast cells. Adenylate cyclase activity in crude membranes from first trimester human placental villous tissue is stimulated 2-fold by hPTH (1-34) (10(-6) mol.l-1) from 265 +/- 32 to 532 +/- 80 pmol of cAMP/mg protein/15 min. A similar stimulation of adenylate cyclase is observed in human term placental villous tissue but not in 3 different choriocarcinoma cell lines. In order to evaluate the possible role of hPTH on the functions of first trimester human trophoblast cells, these cells were isolated by dispase and cultured (2 x 10(5) cells per plate) in DMEM supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum with or without 100 ng/ml of epidermal growth factor (EGF), for 4 d. On d 2 of culture, hPTH (10(-7) mol.l-1) stimulates cAMP production of these cells from 0.52 +/- 0.2 to 2.58 +/- 0.57 pmol.h-1 per 10(6) cells (mean +/- SEM). As compared to control (30 ng/ml), the output of hCG is increased by 1.5- (NS), 2- (P less than 0.01) and 3- (P less than 0.01) fold by EGF, hPTH, and hPTH added with EGF, respectively. Dibutyryl cAMP (10(-3) mol.l-1) increased hCG secretion by 3-fold (P less than 0.05). EGF and hPTH added separately or together significantly stimulated (P less than 0.01) the secretion of free alpha subunit 2-fold from 35 ng/ml to 70 ng/ml. In contrast, hPTH and EGF added separately did not change the secretion of free beta hCG. However, added together, they significantly increased (P less than 0.01) the secretion of free beta hCG after 48 h of culture, maximal stimulation (2.5 fold) being observed at d 4 of culture. In conclusion, human trophoblast cells are target cells for hPTH. hPTH acts in association with EGF in promoting expression of endocrine activity of these cells, such as hCG secretion. Trophoblast cells provide a model for the study of the cooperative effect between a peptide hormone and a growth factor in the regulation of endocrine function.
