Stimulation of hCG protein and mRNA levels in trophoblast tumour cells Jeg3 and BeWo by glycodelin A.

The placental hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) represents a marker for the differentiation process of cytotrophoblast cells into syncytial trophoblasts and is also found in the serum and urine of patients with malignant trophoblastic diseases. During pregnancy, serum concentration curves of hCG and glycodelin A show a similar course. The main source of hCG is the trophoblast and trophoblast cells in vitro show an increased hCG release if treated with glycodelin A. In addition, hCG is a tumour marker for chorion carcinoma cells. We investigated the effect of native and recombinant glycodelin on the trophoblast tumour cells Jeg3 and BeWo and the role of expression plasmids of glycodelin A in the same cells. Our study shows that glycodelin A stimulates the secretion of hCG protein in Jeg3 trophoblast tumour cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Our results were confirmed on the mRNA level by real-time RT-PCR. The effect of glycodelin A on hCG mRNA regulation is time- and dose-dependent. We observed an increase of hCG mRNA copy numbers after glycodelin A treatment leading to a higher hCG protein production. Glycodelin A had no effect on BeWo trophoblast tumour cells, suggesting that production of hCG is not regulated by glycodelin A in these cells.