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PLIF, a novel human ferritin subunit from placenta with immunosuppressive activity
Chaya Moroz1, Leonid Traub, Ron Maymon
1Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva 49100, Israel. hmoroz@post.tau.ac.il
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|February 1, 2002
Summary
Researchers discovered placental immunomodulatory ferritin (PLIF), a novel protein involved in immune tolerance during pregnancy. This protein may also play a role in breast cancer progression.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Ferritin, an iron storage protein, typically comprises heavy (FTH) and light subunits.
- A novel ferritin-related subunit, PLIF, was identified from human placenta cDNA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the structure and function of PLIF.
- To investigate PLIF's role in pregnancy and breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- Cloning and sequencing of PLIF from human placenta cDNA.
- Analysis of PLIF mRNA and protein localization.
- In vitro studies on PLIF's immunomodulatory effects.
Main Results:
- PLIF is a hybrid protein with FTH and a novel C48 domain, lacking iron-regulated elements.
- PLIF is localized at the fetal-maternal interface in early gestation placentas.
- PLIF expression is elevated in breast cancer cell lines and inhibits immune cell proliferation.
Conclusions:
- PLIF acts as an embryonic immune factor, promoting maternal-fetal tolerance.
- Breast cancer cells may co-opt PLIF's immunosuppressive function for their growth.