Sex steroidal regulation of vessel permeability associated with vessel endothelial cadherin (V-cadherin).

In an attempt to understand the roles of cadherins in the placenta, mRNA expression and biological function of cadherins in 3A(tPA-30-1) cells (derived from human term placenta and transformed by SV40), and in HUV-EC-C cells (derived from the endothelial cells in human umbilical cord) were studied under the influence of sex steroids. Estradiol transiently decreased the endothelial cell barrier properties (ECBP) of HUV-EC-C cells, and progesterone reversed the changes induced by estradiol. However, neither estradiol nor progesterone demonstrated any effect on cell aggregation of either 3A(tPA-30-1) or HUV-EC-C cells. Estradiol transiently decreased the level of V-cadherin and its mRNA in HUV-EC-C cells, and progesterone reversed the level decreased by estradiol. However, neither estradiol nor progesterone demonstrated any effect on the level of E-cadherin mRNA in 3A(tPA-30-1) cells. Therefore, a sex steroidal role for placental development and function related to cadherins seems to focus on the endothelial cells, plausibly via vessel permeability for the utilization of placental products.