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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

In Vitro Assays to Evaluate the Migration, Invasion, and Proliferation of Immortalized Human First-trimester Trophoblast Cell Lines
Published on: March 5, 2019
Modulation of endocrine and transport functions in human trophoblasts by saquinavir and nelfinavir
Delphine Beghin1, François Forestier, Marie-Sophie Noël-Hudson
1Univ Paris-Sud, EA 2706, IFR141, Faculté de Pharmacie, Châtenay- Malabry, France. delphinebeghin@free.fr
Objectives:
The distribution of drugs to the maternal-fetal interface is influenced by the expression of various efflux transporters. Among these transporters, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is responsible for the efflux of a great number of drugs such as protease inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus, thus reducing the chemical exposure of the fetus.
Study Design:
The effects of saquinavir and nelfinavir were evaluated on human trophoblast functions and integrity by investigating their effect on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secretion and on P-gp expression and functionality.
Results:
Nelfinavir significantly reduced hCG secretion by 30% after a 48-h treatment but it had no effect on syncytia formation. Saquinavir had no effect on hCG secretion but significantly increased both expression (to a 2-fold extent) and functionality (by 17.9%) of P-gp, whereas nelfinavir only increased functionality (by 23.1%) with a dissociation of P-gp from caveolin-1.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that the effects of saquinavir and nelfinavir differ on trophoblast functions.
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