DIFFERENTIAL GENE-EXPRESSION OF TGF-BETA ISOFORMS AND TGF-BETA RECEPTORS DURING THE FIRST-TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY AT THE HUMAN MATERNAL-FETAL INTERFACE

PROBLEM: The transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta s are multifunction al cytokines, and they play a role in the controlled growth of trophob lasts. Moreover they are thought to be important in maternal-fetal int eraction during early gestation. METHOD OF STUDY: Human decidual and v illous tissues in the first trimester were Northern blotted and amplif ied by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to measure the expression of TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3 and their receptors, ty pes I and II, at the first trimester of pregnancy. In addition, their cell-specific expression at the maternal-fetal interface was determine d by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Each isoform of TGF-beta was expr essed in both decidual and villous tissues. Because most TGF-beta 1 ge ne expression was found in villous tissues, TGF-beta 2 mRNA was expres sed preferentially in the decidual tissues. TGF-beta 3 transcripts wer e expressed in the nonpregnant endometrium. CONCLUSIONS: The results s uggest that each isoform of TGF-beta plays some specific role in decid ualization and placentation. Furthermore, it is predicted that they re gulate the maternal-fetal interaction at early gestation.