Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
08:19

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface

Published on: May 21, 2015

Leukemia inhibitory factor produced at the fetomaternal interface stimulates chorionic gonadotropin production: its

K Sawai1, N Matsuzaki, T Kameda

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|April 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) stimulates trophoblasts to produce chorionic gonadotropin (CG), crucial for placental function and embryo growth. This process involves the glycoprotein 130 (gp130) receptor and tyrosine kinase signaling.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cell signaling

Background:

  • Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are cytokines present at the fetomaternal interface.
  • The role of LIF in early human embryo implantation and placental development requires further elucidation.
  • Glycoprotein 130 (gp130) is a shared receptor component for both LIF and IL-6.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in human embryo implantation.
  • To determine the involvement of gp130 and tyrosine kinase signaling in LIF-mediated trophoblast functions.
  • To assess the production of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) in response to LIF and IL-6.

Main Methods:

  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify LIF and IL-6 levels in decidual and chorionic tissues.
  • Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry to detect gp130 expression and localization.
  • In vitro stimulation of trophoblasts with recombinant LIF (rLIF) and recombinant IL-6 (rIL-6), with or without blocking antibodies (anti-gp130, anti-IL-6 receptor) and genistein.

Main Results:

  • Decidual tissue produced higher LIF levels than chorionic tissue, while IL-6 was higher in chorion.
  • Trophoblasts expressed gp130, the shared receptor for LIF and IL-6.
  • Recombinant LIF (rLIF) induced chorionic gonadotropin (CG) production similar to rIL-6.
  • LIF-induced CG production was blocked by anti-gp130 antibody, indicating gp130 mediation.
  • Both LIF- and IL-6-induced CG production were blocked by genistein, suggesting tyrosine kinase involvement.

Conclusions:

  • LIF produced at the fetomaternal interface stimulates trophoblasts to produce CG via gp130 and tyrosine kinase signaling.
  • LIF plays a significant role in maintaining placental functions and supporting embryonal growth through CG production.
  • These findings highlight LIF as a key factor in early pregnancy maintenance.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface07:51

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface

Published on: May 21, 2015

Isolation of Primary Human Decidual Cells from the Fetal Membranes of Term Placentae07:37

Isolation of Primary Human Decidual Cells from the Fetal Membranes of Term Placentae

Published on: April 30, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance02:30

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
Transcytosis of IgG01:15

Transcytosis of IgG

Transcytosis is the process in which molecules are internalized by endocytosis, transported across the cell, and released through exocytosis from the opposite end of the cell. Molecules such as insulin, immunoglobulins, and certain nutrients are transferred through the recycling endosomes by recycling and transcytosis.
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Ovarian Cycle01:27

Ovarian Cycle

The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle length...