Effect of anticardiolipin antibodies on prolactin and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 production by human decidual cells

PROBLEM: The effect of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACAs) on basal- and grow th factor-stimulated prolactin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein (BP)-1 production by cultured human decidual cells was investigate d. METHOD OF THE STUDY: Decidual cells were cultured for 24, 48, or 96 hr in m edium supplemented with 5% ACA-containing or 5% control serum and increasin g concentrations of insulin (1-10 mu g/L) or IGF-I (10-100 ng/L). RESULTS: No significant increase in prolactin production was observed after addition of increasing doses of insulin and IGF-I in the presence of ACA-c ontaining serum, while a dose-dependent stimulation was seen with control s erum. Time-dependent prolactin accumulation was also reduced when cells wer e cultured in the former conditions. IGF BP-I release was not affected by i nsulin and IGF-I in the presence of both sera. However, lower IGF BP-I leve ls and a less pronounced time-dependent accumulation were observed in the p resence of ACA-positive serum. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that ACAs affect cellular transduction mechan isms regulating critical events, such as decidual cell differentiation. The se cellular dysfunctions might be relevant in the induction of some obstetr ic disorders typical of this syndrome.