Effect of Imiquimod on Cytokine Induction in FirstTrimester Trophoblasts

[摘要] Objectives:Imiquimod (IQ) is used clinically for the topical treatment of external genital warts. IQis an immune response modifier and induces the expression of interferon-α and other cytokines inhuman Peripheral Blood Monocytes (PBMC). Trophoblasts have been previously shown to expressinflammatory cytokines upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. The objective of thisstudy was to evaluate the ability of IQ to induce transcription of cytokines in trophoblasts.Methods:A transformed human first trimester trophoblast cell line, HTR-8/SVneo, was culturedin DMEM containing IQ at concentrations of 0 to 5.0 μg/ml. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) viability assays were conducted to control for any druginducedcell death. Total RNA was isolated from trophoblasts at 0,8 and 24 hours of culture andReverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted using specific amplimersfor the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8. RT-PCR ofβ-actin was performed to control for equal RNA loading.Results:RT-PCR was unable detect an increase in either IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 or IL-8 mRNA infirst trimester trophoblasts cultured in the presence of 0 to 5.0 μg/mL of IQ for up to 24 hours.RT-PCR confirmed equal RNA loading and MTT viability assays did not show loss of cell viabilityat concentrations of IQ up to 5.0 μg/ml.Conclusions:IQ, at the concentrations tested, did not induce the transcriptional expression ofinflammatory cytokines in human first trimester trophoblasts. These data suggest that IQ would notinduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines in placental trophoblasts. Infect. Dis. Obstet.Gynecol. 8:105–111, 2000.

[学科分类] 妇产科学