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The endocannabinoid anandamide affects the synthesis of human syncytiotrophoblast-related proteins

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Abstract

The human syncytiotrophoblast (hST) has a major role in the production of important placental hormones. Several molecules regulate hST endocrine function but the role of endocannabinoids in this process is still unknown. Here, we report that the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) decreased cAMP levels, impaired human chorionic gonadotropin secretion, placental alkaline phosphatase activity and decreased aromatase mRNA levels and protein expression, through cannabinoid (CB) receptor activation. AEA also downregulated leptin and placental protein 13 transcription, though via a CB receptor-independent mechanism. All this evidence suggests AEA is a novel modulator of hormone synthesis by the syncytiotrophoblast, supporting the importance of the endocannabinoid signalling in placental function.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) for the post-doctoral grant of Bruno Fonseca (SFRH/BPD/72958/2010).

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    M. A. Costa

  2. UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n.° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal

    B. M. Fonseca, N. A. Teixeira & Georgina Correia da Silva

  3. Departamento da Mulher e da Criança, Serviço de Obstetrícia, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte- Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    A. Mendes & J. Braga

Authors
  1. M. A. Costa
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  2. B. M. Fonseca
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  3. A. Mendes
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  4. J. Braga
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  5. N. A. Teixeira
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  6. Georgina Correia da Silva
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgina Correia da Silva.

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Costa, M.A., Fonseca, B.M., Mendes, A. et al. The endocannabinoid anandamide affects the synthesis of human syncytiotrophoblast-related proteins. Cell Tissue Res 362, 441–446 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-015-2236-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-015-2236-2

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