Density-dependent inhibition of expression of syncytiotrophoblastic markers by cultured human choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells

Journal of Cellular Physiology
N S Burres, C E Cass

Abstract

In the presence of methotrexate, cultured human choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells undergo a differentiative response that resembles normal trophoblastic development. In the current study, the effects of cell number and population density on drug-induced conversion of BeWo cells from the cytotrophoblastlike to the syncytiotrophoblastlike phenotype were investigated using as markers of differentiation formation of "giant" cells, a process shown to require exogenous purines, and expression of placental (heat-stable) alkaline phosphatase. Giant cell formation, assessed by determination of cell volumes, was reduced in crowded cultures, and addition of hypoxanthine to growth media partially restored methotrexate-induced cell enlargement. Cellular uptake of methotrexate, assessed by following the loss of methotrexate from cell culture fluids during drug exposures, was two-threefold greater in sparsely populated than in densely populated cultures. Although the concentration of methotrexate in culture fluids of crowded cultures declined during exposures of 48 hr, the amount of extracellular drug remaining at 48 hr was well above the threshold for induction of the differentiative response. When culture population was held constant and populat...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 1, 1989·In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology : Journal of the Tissue Culture Association·N S Burres, C E Cass
Aug 22, 2001·Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology·S RamaA J Rao
Apr 12, 2007·Reproductive Biomedicine Online·Laxmipriya P NampoothiriA Jagannadha Rao
Oct 16, 2016·Reproduction : the Official Journal of the Society for the Study of Fertility·Ru ZhengHongmei Wang
Jun 1, 1993·Journal of Cellular Physiology·K A Meckling-GillC E Cass
May 9, 2003·Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology·S A Flanagan, K A Meckling
Jun 1, 2021·Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology·Clara ApicellaFrancisco Miralles

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