Rabbit peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex (PAP) as a model for the uptake of immunoglobulin G by the human placenta

Rabbit peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex (PAP) has been shown to bind to IgG receptors on the human placental syncytiotrophoblast microvillar membrane. Its binding characteristics suggest that it is suitable as a probe for studies on the uptake of IgG by the human placenta. A novel assay system was developed to measure the dissociation constants (Kd) of the binding of PAP and of unlabelled human IgG to purified placental microvillar membranes. The Kd for PAP was found to be 54 nM, while that for unlabelled IgG was found to be 17.5 nM. The uptake of PAP by placental tissue slices was observed using peroxidase histochemistry and electron microscopy. In initial experiments, reaction product was confined to the peripheral regions of the syncytiotrophoblast. Assaying a placental homogenate for catalase activity showed that it contained 250 units of activity per g wet weight of tissue (compared with 680 units/g for rat liver). Treatment of fixed tissue with the catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1, 2, 4-triazole allowed the localization of peroxidase reaction product in deeper regions of the syncytiotrophoblast. Based on observations of the localization of reaction product, we propose that PAP is taken up in coated pits, transferred into large apical multivesicular bodies, segregated into small vesicles which then transport it to the Golgi. From here the PAP is directed to the basal membrane by a mechanism as yet unknown.