SEX STEROIDAL REGULATION OF VESSEL PERMEABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH VESSEL ENDOTHELIAL CADHERIN (V-CADHERIN)

In an attempt to understand the roles of cadherins in the placenta, mR NA expression and biological function of cadherins in 3A(tPA-30-1) cel ls (derived from human term placenta and transformed by SV40), and in HUV-EC-C cells (derived from the endothelial cells in human umbilical cord) were studied under the influence of sex steroids. Estradiol tran siently decreased the endothelial cell barrier properties (ECBP) of HU V-EC-C cells, and progesterone reversed the changes induced by estradi ol. However, neither estradiol nor progesterone demonstrated any effec t on cell aggregation of either 3A(tPA-30-1) or HUV-EC-C cells. Estrad iol transiently decreased the level of V-cadherin and its mRNA in HUV- EC-C cells, and progesterone reversed the level decreased by estradiol . However, neither estradiol nor progesterone demonstrated any effect on the level of E-cadherin mRNA in 3A(tPA-30-1) cells. Therefore, a se x steroidal role for placental development and function related to cad herins seems to focus on the endothelial cells, plausibly via vessel p ermeability for the utilization of placental products. (C) 1998 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.