Interleukin-3 and human trophoblast: in vitro explanations for the effect of interleukin in patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Objective: To examine the effect of interleukin (IL)-3 on in vitro trophobl ast differentiation, hormone production, and invasiveness affected by antip hospholipid antibodies. Design: Primary cytotrophoblast cell cultures. Setting: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Catholic University, R ome, Italy. Patient(s): Five normal pregnant women underwent uncomplicated vaginal deli very at 36 weeks of gestation. Intervention(s): Immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies were isolated from the pl asma of two patients with antiphospholipid syndrome and two normal control subjects with the use of protein-G Sepharose columns. Cytotrophoblast cells were dispersed in Ringer's bicarbonate buffer containing trypsin and DNAse I, filtered, and layered over a Percoll gradient in Hank's balanced salt so lution. Main Outcome Measure(s): We investigated the effects of IL-3 and antiphosph olipid antibodies on trophoblast cell invasiveness, differentiation, and ho rmone secretion. Result(s): IgG obtained from patients with antiphospholipid syndrome bound to trophoblast cells, with inhibitory effects on the cells' invasiveness, d ifferentiation, and hCG secretion. IL-3 was able to restore in vitro placen tal functions. Conclusion(s): These results imply that IL-3 favorably affects human tropho blast implantation and development. ((C) 2000 by American Society for Repro ductive Medicine.)