Nickel binding by isolated human trophoblast cells.

Isolated human trophoblast cells were used for the first time to mimic the placental metabolism of nickel. The retention of nickel by the trophoblast cells was assessed in presence of different nickel ligands. Nickel chloride and nickel-albumin showed an initial rapid binding to human trophoblast cells reaching a quasi-steady state after 30 min. Albumin, however, reduced the binding of nickel to the cells. Nickel-histidine showed slow initial binding, although no saturation was achieved. The results for nickel-histidine complexes are similar to those observed in in vivo experiments.