Characterization of long-term cell cultures of human chorion villi and fibroblasts using antibodies to cytoskeletal proteins.

In long-term cultures of chorion villi the expression of cytoskeletal proteins--vimentin, cytokeratin, actin, tropomyosin and vinculin--was studied using immunoreactivity to antibodies. Vimentin was detected in all cells of chorionic villi cultures despite their morphological appearance. In comparison to fibroblast cultures from human skin biopsies with bundle-like vimentin structures, chorionic villi cells showed fine ramified vimentin filaments. Some of the chorionic villi cells with typical fibroblastoid appearance also had cytokeratin filaments. No differences were observed in the distribution of vinculin. Tropomyosin structure and actin filaments could be detected in cultures of chorionic villi whereas fibroblasts showed only an intense diffuse staining.