Effect of conditioned media from decidual cell culture on the expression of genes regulating the invasion of trophoblastic cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the conditioned media from decidual cell cultures (DCM) on the expression of genes regulating the invasion of trophoblastic cells. METHODS: In vitro culture of decidual cells obtained from healthy women of both early (within the first trimester) and full-term pregnancy respectively was performed to prepare conditioned media of decidual cells (DCM). Trophoblastic cells were also obtained in these subjects and treated with DCM for 24 h in in vitro culture, to observe the effect of DCM, with the help of semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR, on the expression of genes in these cells that regulate their invasion. RESULTS: Expression of matrix metallsoproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), other than that of TIMP-2 and plasminogen activator inhibitor type (PAI)-1, was observed in normal trophoblastic cells in in vitro culture. DCM derived from wemon of early and full-term pregnancy down-regulated the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, u-PA while up-regulated the expression of TIMP-1, PAI-1. CONCLUSION: DCM may exhibit its anti-invasive activity by regulating the expression of genes involved in the regulation of trophoblastic cell invasion, such as MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, u-PA and PAI-1.