Biological action of keratinocyte growth factor in BeWo cells, a human choriocarcinoma cell line

Previously, we reported that the expression of keratinocyte growth factor ( KGF) is enhanced in secretory phase endometrial and decidual cells in early pregnancy as compared with the expression of KGF in proliferative phase en dometrial cells, in humans. In order to clarify the role of KGF in embryo-e ndometrial interaction, we analyzed the in vitro effect of KGF on the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secretion and on DNA synthesis in chorionic v illi which are in close contact with the endometrium/decidua in the early s tage of pregnancy. In this study, we used the BeWo cell line, a human chori ocarcinoma cell line that possesses the biological features of secreting va rious placental hormones including hCG. Furthermore, we investigated the ex pression of KGF receptor (KGF-R) in these cells. KGF significantly stimulat ed hCG secretion in cultured BeWo cells but did not affect [3H]-thymidine i ncorporation. KGF-R mRNA was detected in BeWo cells by reverse transcriptas e-polymerase chain reaction. These results suggest that the expression of K GF, which is induced in endometrial/decidual cells by progesterone, plays a n important role in the embryo-endometrial/decidual interaction by stimulat ing hCG secretion rather than affecting cell proliferation. (C) 2000, Editr ice Kurtis.