Keratinocyte growth factor in the promotion of human chorionic gonadotropin production in human choriocarcinoma cells

OBJECTIVE: Several growth factors and cytokines appear to participate in th e proliferation or differentiation of trophoblast cells. The purpose of thi s study was to investigate the extent to which keratinocyte growth factor p articipates in the development of human embryonic and trophoblast cells at the maternal-fetal interface. STUDY DESIGN: The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method wa s used to determine the gene expression of keratinocyte growth factor and k eratinocyte growth factor receptor in human choriocarcinoma cells (BeWo), h uman teratocarcinoma cells (PA-1), and human endometrial stromal cells. We also examined the effects of keratinocyte growth factor on cell proliferati on and production of human chorionic gonadotropin in BeWo and PA-1 cells. RESULTS: Keratinocyte growth factor gene was expressed in all cell types. T he expression was pronounced in stromal cells of the endometrium collected during the secretory phase and early pregnancy. The keratinocyte growth fac tor expression was also enhanced in the differentiated BeWo cells. The expr ession of keratinocyte growth factor receptor gene was observed only in the BeWo cells. The addition of keratinocyte growth factor to the medium did n ot affect cell proliferation of the BeWo and PA-1 cells. On the other hand, keratinocyte growth factor (100 ng/mL) significantly enhanced human chorio nic gonadotropin production in the BeWo cells. Stimulatory action of kerati nocyte growth factor on human chorionic gonadotropin production in the BeWo cells was markedly enhanced after forskolin-induced differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that keratinocyte growth factor may play an import ant role in promotion of human chorionic gonadotropin production in the tro phoblast cells.