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Expression of the Erythropoietin Receptor by Trophoblast Cellsin the Human Placenta¹

^a Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, and ^b Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213

Nonclassical sites of erythropoietin (EPO) and erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R) expression have been described that suggest new physiological roles for this hormone unrelated to erythropoiesis. The recent finding of EPO expression by trophoblast cells in the human placenta prompted us to consider whether these cells also express EPO-R. With use of immunocytochemistry, EPO-R was identified in villous and extravillous cytotrophoblast cells, as well as in the syncytiotrophoblast at all gestational ages. EPO-R was also expressed by cells within the villous core, including endothelial cells of fetoplacental blood vessels. Placental tissues and isolated and immunopurified trophoblast cells, as well as trophoblast-derived choriocarcinoma Jar cells, expressed immunoreactive EPO-R on Western blot. EPO-R mRNA was also detected in the same placental tissues and trophoblast cells by nested-primer reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Finally, EPO-R was functional insofar as the receptor was phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in response to exogenous EPO treatment of cultured trophoblast or Jar cells. Thus, the present findings support the hypothesis that trophoblast cells of the human placenta express EPO-R. In view of these results, taken together with previous work demonstrating EPO expression by the same cells, an autocrine role for this hormone in the survival, proliferation, or differentiation of placental trophoblast cells is proposed.

¹ Supported by NIH grants R01 HL 56410, K04 HD 01098. Portions of this work were published in abstract form: Society for Gynecologic Investigation 4:136A, 1997.

² Correspondence: Kirk P. Conrad, Magee-Womens Research Institute, 204 Craft Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. FAX: 412 641 1503; rsikpc{at}mail.magee.edu

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