Adenylate cyclase in human cytotrophoblasts: characterization and its role in modulating human chorionic gonadotropin secretion.

Our previous work demonstrated that 8-bromo-cAMP promotes the secretion of both hCG and progesterone by cultured cytotrophoblasts. This study was conducted to characterize the adenylate cyclase of cytotrophoblasts and to examine the effects of agents that stimulate adenylate cyclase on hCG secretion. Adenylate cyclase activity was detected in purified cytotrophoblasts, as were membrane-bound stimulatory and inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins, Gs and Gi. Adenylate cyclase was stimulated by MnCl2 and MgCl2, and the effects of MgCl2 were amplified by the GTP analog guanylylimidodiphosphate. Cholera toxin stimulated both cAMP and hCG production by cultured cytotrophoblasts, confirming the coupling of Gs to the adenylate cyclase. Forskolin also stimulated adenylate cyclase, cAMP synthesis, and hCG secretion. Pertussis toxin did not affect hCG secretion in either the absence or presence of forskolin. 8-Bromo-cAMP stimulated cytotrophoblast protein kinase activity, resulting in the increased phosphorylation of a protein with a mol wt of about 70,000, and produced a marked stimulation of hCG secretion. Our findings suggest that the level of expression of adenylate cyclase activity is one determinant of the endocrine function of the differentiating trophoblast.