Problem: As there has been a study in mice showing the expression of IL-17 by decidual cells and the status of IL-17 receptor expression in human pregnancy is not known, we hypothesized that IL-17 may regulate human trophoblast proliferation and invasion.
Method of study: JEG-3 cell line was used as a model for human trophoblast. Immunohistochemitry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction techniques were used to identify IL-17 receptor protein and mRNA, respectively. The effects of IL-17 on JEG-3 cell proliferation and invasion were tested using the BrdU incorporation and the Matrigel invasion assays, respectively.
Results: IL-17 increased the invasive capacity of JEG-3 cells but had no effect on the proliferation and multinucleated formation of JEG-3 cells.
Conclusion: In this JEG-3 cell model of human trophoblast, the IL-17R and IL-17 may have a regulatory role in trophoblast invasion.