Abstract
Transferrin (Tf) mRNA was recently demonstrated in rat and mouseplacental tissue. Rat placental cells were shown to secrete transferrin. Thecell type with which Tf mRNA was associated was not investigated. Wetherefore studied the ability of immunopurified human term cytotrophoblastcells in culture to synthesize Tf, by means of pulse-label experiments with35S-methionine and report that these cells do synthesize Tf. Tf mRNA wasdemonstrated in the cell lysates by means of RT-PCR. Tf isolated fromcytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cells was shown to be different fromboth maternal and fetal serum Tf with respect to the distribution ofisoforms as demonstrated by means of iso-electric focusing. The iso-electricpoints were found at lower pH values (pH 5.0-5.4), compared to theiso-electric points of maternal and fetal serum Tf, suggesting a higherdegree of sialylation and glycan chain complexity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aldred AR, Dickson PW, Marley PD, Schreiber G: Distribution of transferrin synthesis in brain and other tissues in the rat. J Biol Chem 262(11): 5293–5297, 1987
Yang F, Friedrichs WE, Buchanan JM, Herbert DC, Weaker FJ, Brock JH, Bowman BH: Tissue specific expression of mouse transferrin during development and aging. Mech Ageing Dev 56: 1187–1197, 1990
Boockfor FR, Harris SE, Barto JM, Bonner JM: Placental cell release of transferrin: Analysis by reverse hemolytic plaque assay. Placenta 15(5): 501–509, 1994
Kliman HJ, Nestler JE, Sernasi E, Sanger JM, Strauss JF III: Purification and in vitrodifferentiation of cytotrophoblasts from human term placentae. Endocrinology 118: 1567–1582, 1986
Starreveld JS, Kroos MJ, Verrijt CEH, van Eijk HG, van Dijk JP: Ferritin in cultured human cytotrophoblasts: Synthesis and subunit distribution. Placenta 16: 383–395, 1995
van Eijk HG, van Noort WL: The analysis of human transferrin with the PhastSystem: Quantitation of microheterogeneity. Electrophoresis 13: 354–358, 1992
Chomczynski P, Sacchi N: Single-step of RNA isolation by acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction. Anal Biochem 162: 156–159, 1987
de Smit MH, Hoefkens P, de Jong G, van Duin J, van Knippenberg PH, van Eijk HG: Optimized bacterial expression of nonglycosylated human transferrin and its half-molecules. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 27: 839–850, 1995
Yang F, Lum JB, McGill JR, Moore CM, Naylor SL, van Bragt PH, Baldwin WD, Bowman BH: Human transferrin: cDNA characterization and chromosomal location. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 81: 2752–2756, 1984
Galbraith GMP, Galbraith RM, Faulk WP: Immunological studies of transferrin and transferrin receptor of human placental trophoblast. Placenta 1: 33–46, 1980
Douglas GC, King BF: Uptake and processing of 125-I labelled transferrin and 59-Fe labelled transferrin by isolated human trophoblast cells. Placenta 11: 41–57, 1990
Starreveld JS, van Denderen J, Kroos MJ, van Dijk JP, van Eijk HG: The effect of iron supplementation on iron uptake by differentiating cytotrophoblasts. Reprod Fertil Dev 8: 417–422, 1996
Eaton BM, Browne MJ, Contractor SF: Transferrin mediated iron transport in the perfused isolated human placental lobule. Contrib Gynecol Obstet 13: 149–150, 1985
de Jong G, van Dijk JP, van Eijk HG: The Biology of Transferrin: A critical review. Clin Chim Acta 190: 146, 1990
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Verrijt, C., Kroos, M., Verhoeven, A. et al. Transferrin in cultured human term cytotrophoblast cells: Synthesis and heterogeneity. Mol Cell Biochem 173, 1–5 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006893429891
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006893429891