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Temporal and spatial pattern of cellular myc oncogene expression during human placental development.
J Rydnert1, S Pfeifer-Ohlsson, A S Goustin
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Umeå University Hospital, Sweden.
Placenta
|July 1, 1987
Summary
Human placental development involves the c-myc oncogene, crucial for cell proliferation. Its expression peaks early and declines, correlating with cytotrophoblast growth in the developing placenta.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Oncology
Background:
- The human placenta, of embryonic origin, exhibits high proliferation and is developmentally regulated.
- Cellular oncogenes are implicated in normal cell proliferation and differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate c-myc oncogene expression during human placental development.
- To correlate c-myc expression patterns with placental growth and differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Studied c-myc oncogene expression in human placental tissue.
- Utilized in situ hybridization with [125I]-labelled myc probes.
Main Results:
- c-myc transcript levels varied 20- to 30-fold during placental development, peaking at 4-5 weeks post-conception.
- Placental c-myc transcription declined before the end of the first trimester.
- High c-myc expression was localized to the cytotrophoblastic shell in early placenta.
Conclusions:
- Temporal patterns and localization of c-myc transcripts strongly correlate with cytotrophoblastic proliferation.
- The c-myc gene may play a role in the proliferation of normal cells, specifically in placental development.