Antiphospholipid antibodies regulate the expression of trophoblast cell adhesion molecules

Objective: To examine the effect of antiphospholipid antibodies on trophoblast expression of adhesion
molecules.
Design: Primary cytotrophoblast cell cultures.
Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Patient(s): Five normal pregnant women underwent uncomplicated vaginal delivery at 36 weeks of gestation.
Intervention(s): IgG antibodies were isolated from a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome and from a
normal control subject, using protein-G Sepharose columns. Cytotrophoblast cells were dispersed in bicarbonate
buffer containing trypsin and DNAse I.
Main Outcome Measure(s): We investigated the effects of antiphospholipid antibodies on trophoblast
adhesion molecules (1 and 5 integrins, E and VE cadherins), both at the protein and mRNA levels.
Result(s): The 1 and 5 integrins were present in trophoblast cells from 24 hours of culture. Treatment with
IgG that were obtained from the patient with antiphospholipid syndrome significantly decreased 1 integrin
and increased 5 integrin at both the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, IgG with antiphospholipid
antibodies activities induced VE-cadherin down-regulation and the E-cadherin up-regulation at protein and
mRNA levels compared with control IgG or untreated cells.
Conclusion(s): The results suggest that the inadequate trophoblastic invasion, induced by antiphospholipid
antibodies, can be the result of abnormal trophoblast adhesion molecules expression.