Expression of Fas ligand and Fas in human normal
and pathological placentae
Ninci, E., Meinhold, I., Bettendorf, H., Royo, J., Bauknecht, T., Brandstetter, T.
Department of Gynecology, Universtitätsklinikum Freiburg, Hugstetterstr, 55, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany
The transmembrane receptor Fas, together with ist protein-binding partner, Fas Ligand, is a key regulator of programmed cell death. Cross-linking of FasL and Fas induces apoptosis of Fas bearing cells. Recently, it has been proposed that the expression of Fas in placenta trophoblasts could be a mechanism for immune privilege in placenta and maternal invasion. The aim of our study was to investigate whether the expression of FasL and Fas is altered in different pathological placentae. Samples of 12 selected human pathological placentae, as well as normal placenta, amnion and ovary were inmediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Cryostat cuts were studied by immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies against Fas and FasL proteins. mRNA expression was analysed by RT-PCR. Whereas FasL protein expression in normal placenta was relative low, in 5 pathological placentae protein detection was strong positive. Four of these 5 strong positive samples also expressed Fas protein. FasL mRNA was detected with different intensities in all the samples studied. In contrast, Fas mRNA was strong detected only in 2 cases and all other samples showed no or low mRNA expression. This data suggests that the altered expression of FasL and Fas in placenta could affect mechanisms implicated in maternal-fetal immune tolerance.
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