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Updated: May 16, 2026

Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes
Published on: May 10, 2022
Mannose receptor, C type 1 contributes to bacterial uptake by placental trophoblast giant cells
Masanori Hashino1, Masato Tachibana, Takashi Shimizu
1The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, and Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan.
During pregnancy, maternal immune function is strictly controlled and immune tolerance is induced. Trophoblast giant (TG) cells exhibit phagocytic activity and show macrophage-like activity against microorganisms in the placenta. However, details of molecular receptors and mechanisms for uptake by TG cells have not been clarified. In this study, we investigated the involvement of the mannose receptor, C type 1 (MRC1), in the uptake of the abortion-inducible bacterium Listeria monocytogenes and abortion-uninducible bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli by TG cells differentiated from a mouse trophoblast stem cell line in vitro. Knockdown of MRC1 inhibited the uptake of all of these bacteria, as did the blocking of MRC1 by MRC1 ligands. The uptake of bacteria by MRC1 delayed the maturation of phagolysosomes. These findings suggest that MRC1 plays an important role in the uptake of various bacteria by TG cells and may provide an opportunity for those bacteria to escape from phagosomes.
During pregnancy, maternal immune function is strictly controlled and immune tolerance is induced. Trophoblast giant (TG) cells exhibit phagocytic activity and show macrophage-like activity against microorganisms in the placenta. However, details of molecular receptors and mechanisms for uptake by TG cells have not been clarified. In this study, we investigated the involvement of the mannose receptor, C type 1 (MRC1), in the uptake of the abortion-inducible bacterium Listeria monocytogenes and abortion-uninducible bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli by TG cells differentiated from a mouse trophoblast stem cell line in vitro. Knockdown of MRC1 inhibited the uptake of all of these bacteria, as did the blocking of MRC1 by MRC1 ligands. The uptake of bacteria by MRC1 delayed the maturation of phagolysosomes. These findings suggest that MRC1 plays an important role in the uptake of various bacteria by TG cells and may provide an opportunity for those bacteria to escape from phagosomes.
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