Interleukin-3 and human trophoblast: in vitro explanations for the effect of interleukin in patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Objective: To examine the effect of interleukin (IL)-3 on in vitro trophoblast differentiation, hormone\r\nproduction, and invasiveness affected by antiphospholipid antibodies.\r\nDesign: Primary cytotrophoblast cell cultures.\r\nSetting: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Catholic University, Rome, Italy.\r\nPatient(s): Five normal pregnant women underwent uncomplicated vaginal delivery at 36 weeks of gestation.\r\nIntervention(s): Immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies were isolated from the plasma of two patients with\r\nantiphospholipid syndrome and two normal control subjects with the use of protein-G Sepharose columns.\r\nCytotrophoblast cells were dispersed in Ringer’s bicarbonate buffer containing trypsin and DNAseI, filtered,\r\nand layered over a Percoll gradient in Hank’s balanced salt solution.\r\nMain Outcome Measure(s): We investigated the effects of IL-3 and antiphospholipid antibodies on trophoblast\r\ncell invasiveness, differentiation, and hormone secretion.\r\nResult(s): IgG obtained from patients with antiphospholipid syndrome bound to trophoblast cells, with\r\ninhibitory effects on the cells’ invasiveness, differentiation, and hCG secretion. IL-3 was able to restore in\r\nvitro placental functions.\r\nConclusion(s): These results imply that IL-3 favorably affects human trophoblast implantation and\r\ndevelopment.