ABSTRACT
The effects of leptin on cytotrophoblast proliferation and invasion activity were investigated.Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the placental expression of leptin in first-trimester preg-nancy. By using RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR, the expression of leptin in cytotrophoblast and the effect of leptin on cytotrophoblast secretion were detected. The potential of cell proliferation, inva-siveness and migration was assessed by MTT, Transwell invasion assay and migration assay respec-tively when the cytotrophoblast was cultured with different concentrations of leptin. The results showed that: (1) Leptin was distributed diffusely around cell membrane, in cytoplasma, and on nuclear mem-brane of cytotrophoblast; (2) Leptin mRNA was expressed in cytotrophoblast. Ten ng/mL leptin could promote the secretion of cytotrophoblast significantly (P<0.01); (3) After culture with different concen-trations of leptin for 24 h or longer, the proliferation of cytotrophoblast was inhibited, while in 24 h leptin could promote cytotrophoblast invasion and migration. Leptin at a concentration of 500 ng/mL could promote cytotrophoblast invasiveness and migration significantly as compared with controls (P<0.05). It was suggested that leptin could inhibit cytotrophoblast proliferation, and promote cytotro-phoblast invasion and migration activity.