DIFFERENTIAL INTERFERON-PRODUCTION IN HUMAN 1ST AND 3RD TRIMESTER TROPHOBLAST CULTURES STIMULATED WITH VIRUSES

Stimulation of human placental first and third trimester trophoblast and syncytio-trophoblast cultures with viruses [Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) and Sendai virus] led to a high inteferon (IFN) production. The magnitude of the production was dependent on the gestational age of the trophoblast, type of inducer and the stage of differentiation of the trophoblast. The data obtained indicated that the first trimester trophoblast cultures produced five to sixfold more IFN than the third trimester trophoblast on per cell basis whereas syncytiotrophoblast at term produced twice as much IFN than the mononuclear term trophoblast when stimulated with the viruses. NDV and Sendai virus produced different levels and composition of IFN-α and-β in both first and third trimester trophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cultures. Purification of the virus-induced trophoblast interferons (tro-IFNs) by tandem high-performance affinity chromatography resulted in specific activities between 0.7 and 2.7×108 IU/mg of protein when assayed on human amniotic WISH cells. The tro-IFN-α protected both human and bovine MDBK cells from virus infection whereas the tro-IFN-β protected only the human cell lines tested. The possible roles of the tro-IFNs are discussed in light of the observed differences in trophoblast IFN response. © 1993, Baillière Tindall. All rights reserved.