[Influence of dexamethasone on expression of 11beta-HSD2 in primary cultured cytotrophoblasts from human preterm placenta].

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of dexamethasone (DEX) on the expression of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2) in primary cultured cytotrophoblasts from human preterm placenta.

METHODS: Placenta villous cytotrophoblasts from preterm birth were cultured with the protocol of enzymatic dissociation and tissue incubation method. After isolation and identification, cytotrophoblasts were treated with the repeated administration of DEX (100 nmol/L), or DEX-RU486 (1 micromol/L) for 7 days, in which DEX was not added into the culture at 4th day. Cytotrophoblasts were collected everyday, and the expression levels of 11beta-HSD2 mRNA and protein were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot method.

RESULTS: After the treatment of DEX (100 nmol/L), the expression of 11beta-HSD2 mRNA and protein in cytotrophoblast increased in the first three days (P < 0.05). At 4th day, 11beta-HSD2 mRNA and protein declined in the absence of DEX. In 5th-7th day, the increase of 11beta-HSD2 expression were resumed when cytotrophoblasts received DEX again (P < 0.05). With the treatment of DEX and RU486 (l micromol/L), both mRNA and protein level of 11beta-HSD2 in cytotrophoblasts were lower than those with DEX alone, but there was not significantly different (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Repeated administration of DEX can upregulate the expression level of 11beta-HSD2 in primary cultured cytotrophoblasts from preterm placenta. Cytotrophoblasts from preterm birth may have the ability to protect the infants by the mechanism of 11beta-HSD2 regulation.