Biomaterial Database

Expression of melatoninergic receptors in human placental choriocarcinoma cell lines. 2006

Dave Lanoix, and Rodney Ouellette, and Cathy Vaillancourt

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

BACKGROUND Melatonin crosses the placenta and enters the fetal circulation. Moreover, experimental data suggest a possible influence of melatonin on placental function and fetal development in humans. To date, the expression and role of melatonin receptors in human placenta choriocarcinoma cell lines and in human term placental tissues remain to be elucidated. RESULTS Results from RT-PCR, western blotting and confocal microscopy demonstrated that the MT1, MT2 and RORalpha1 melatonin receptors are expressed in the human term placental tissues and in choriocarcinoma cell lines JEG-3 and BeWo. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that 6-chloromelatonin (a melatonin agonist) inhibits, in a dose-dependent manner, forskolin-stimulated hCG-beta secretion in JEG-3 (P < 0.001) and BeWo (P < 0.05) cells but had no effect on basal human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG-beta) levels. This effect of 6-chloromelatonin on forskolin-stimulated HCG-beta secretion was abolished by pertussis toxin (PTX), suggesting that melatonin regulates hCG-beta production by an action involving an inhibitory Gi/o protein. In PTX-treated BeWo cells, 6-chloromelatonin stimulated basal hCG-beta secretion (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate, for the first time, the expression of melatonin receptors in human term placental tissues and in choriocarcinoma cells and suggest a possible paracrine/autocrine function for melatonin in human placenta.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008550	Melatonin	A biogenic amine that is found in animals and plants. In mammals, melatonin is produced by the PINEAL GLAND. Its secretion increases in darkness and decreases during exposure to light. Melatonin is implicated in the regulation of SLEEP, mood, and REPRODUCTION. Melatonin is also an effective antioxidant.
D010920	Placenta	A highly vascularized mammalian fetal-maternal organ and major site of transport of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products. It includes a fetal portion (CHORIONIC VILLI) derived from TROPHOBLASTS and a maternal portion (DECIDUA) derived from the uterine ENDOMETRIUM. The placenta produces an array of steroid, protein and peptide hormones (PLACENTAL HORMONES).	Placentoma, Normal,Placentome,Placentas,Placentomes
D002822	Choriocarcinoma	A malignant metastatic form of trophoblastic tumors. Unlike the HYDATIDIFORM MOLE, choriocarcinoma contains no CHORIONIC VILLI but rather sheets of undifferentiated cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts (TROPHOBLASTS). It is characterized by the large amounts of CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN produced. Tissue origins can be determined by DNA analyses: placental (fetal) origin or non-placental origin (CHORIOCARCINOMA, NON-GESTATIONAL).	Choriocarcinomas
D005260	Female		Females
D005455	Fluorescent Antibody Technique	Test for tissue antigen using either a direct method, by conjugation of antibody with fluorescent dye (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, DIRECT) or an indirect method, by formation of antigen-antibody complex which is then labeled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibody (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, INDIRECT). The tissue is then examined by fluorescence microscopy.	Antinuclear Antibody Test, Fluorescent,Coon's Technique,Fluorescent Antinuclear Antibody Test,Fluorescent Protein Tracing,Immunofluorescence Technique,Coon's Technic,Fluorescent Antibody Technic,Immunofluorescence,Immunofluorescence Technic,Antibody Technic, Fluorescent,Antibody Technics, Fluorescent,Antibody Technique, Fluorescent,Antibody Techniques, Fluorescent,Coon Technic,Coon Technique,Coons Technic,Coons Technique,Fluorescent Antibody Technics,Fluorescent Antibody Techniques,Fluorescent Protein Tracings,Immunofluorescence Technics,Immunofluorescence Techniques,Protein Tracing, Fluorescent,Protein Tracings, Fluorescent,Technic, Coon's,Technic, Fluorescent Antibody,Technic, Immunofluorescence,Technics, Fluorescent Antibody,Technics, Immunofluorescence,Technique, Coon's,Technique, Fluorescent Antibody,Technique, Immunofluorescence,Techniques, Fluorescent Antibody,Techniques, Immunofluorescence,Tracing, Fluorescent Protein,Tracings, Fluorescent Protein
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015534	Trans-Activators	Diffusible gene products that act on homologous or heterologous molecules of viral or cellular DNA to regulate the expression of proteins.	Nuclear Trans-Acting Factor,Trans-Acting Factors,Trans-Acting Factor,Trans-Activator,Transactivator,Transactivators,Factor, Nuclear Trans-Acting,Factor, Trans-Acting,Factors, Trans-Acting,Nuclear Trans Acting Factor,Trans Acting Factor,Trans Acting Factors,Trans Activator,Trans Activators,Trans-Acting Factor, Nuclear
D015870	Gene Expression	The phenotypic manifestation of a gene or genes by the processes of GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION and GENETIC TRANSLATION.	Expression, Gene,Expressions, Gene,Gene Expressions
D044094	Receptors, Melatonin	A family of G-protein-coupled receptors that are specific for and mediate the effects of MELATONIN. Activation of melatonin receptors has been associated with decreased intracellular CYCLIC AMP and increased hydrolysis of PHOSPHOINOSITIDES.	Melatonin Receptors,MT3 Receptor,Mel(1c) Receptor,Melatonin MT3 Receptor,Receptor, Mel1c,Receptor, Melatonin,Receptor, Melatonin, 1C,Receptor, Melatonin, MT3,MT3 Receptor, Melatonin,Mel1c Receptor,Melatonin Receptor,Receptor, MT3,Receptor, Melatonin MT3
D044122	Receptor, Melatonin, MT1	A melatonin receptor subtype that is primarily found in the HYPOTHALAMUS and in the KIDNEY.	Melatonin MT1 Receptor,MT1 Receptor,Mel(1a)-Melatonin Receptor,MT1 Receptor, Melatonin,Receptor, MT1,Receptor, Melatonin MT1