TMED2/p24β1 is expressed in all gestational stages of human placentas and in choriocarcinoma cell lines

Zakariyah, A.; Hou, W.; Slim, R.; Jerome-Majewska, L.

doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2011.12.009

« Previous Next »Placenta
Volume 33, Issue 3 , Pages 214-219, March 2012

TMED2/p24β1 is expressed in all gestational stages of human placentas and in choriocarcinoma cell lines

A. Zakariyah
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Docteur Penfield, N5/13, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada
W. Hou
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Docteur Penfield, N5/13, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada
R. Slim
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Docteur Penfield, N5/13, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada
L. Jerome-Majewska
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Docteur Penfield, N5/13, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Research Institute-at Place Toulon, 4060 Ste. Catherine West, PT 420, Montreal Children’s Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3Z 2Z3, Canada
- Corresponding author. Department of Pediatrics and Human Genetics, McGill University, Research Institute-at Place Toulon, 4060 Ste. Catherine West, PT 420, Montreal, QC H3Z 2Z3, Canada. Tel.: +1 514 412 4400x23279; fax: +1 514 412 4331.

Accepted 12 December 2011. published online 04 January 2012.

Abstract

Members of the transmembrane emp24 domain (Tmed)/p24 family of proteins are required for transport of proteins between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi. One member of this family, Tmed2/p24β1, is expressed during placental development in mice and its expression is required for normal development of the labyrinth layer. Although TMED2 is conserved in humans, little is known about its expression and function in human placenta. We examined TMED2 expression in human placenta between 5.5 and 40 weeks of gestation and showed that TMED2 is expressed in syncytiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast, and stromal cells. We also found high levels of TMED2 expression in BeWo but not in JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell line. We used the BeWo cell line to determine TMED2 subcellular localization in placental cells and show its co-localization with the endoplasmic reticulum Golgi intermediate compartment. Our findings show conservation of TMED2 expression in human placenta and suggest that this protein may also play a role during placental development in humans.

Keywords: BeWo, JEG-3, TMED2/p24β1, Chorionic villi, Cytotrophoblast, Syncytiotrophoblast, Placenta