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.