Objective: To investigate effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) on the growth of first trimester human cytotrophoblast in vitro.
Methods: To isolate and purificate first trimester human cytotrophoblasts by way of percoll density gradient centrifugation; to evaluate the effect of CsA on in vitro proliferation of cytotrophoblasts using (3)H-thymidine incorporation assay; to analyze of cell cycle of cytotrophoblasts with flow cytometric assay; and to survey morphology of the cells by scanning electro-microscope respectively.
Results: CsA could increase in vitro proliferation of first trimester human cytotrophoblasts when concentration of CsA ranged from 1 x 10(-4) micromol/L to 1 micromol/L, but decrease in vitro proliferation of the cells if the concentration reached to 10 micromol/L. G(2)-M phase increased from (2.8 +/- 0.5)% to (6.7 +/- 1.3)% when the cytotrophoblasts were incubated with culture medium containing 1 micromol/L CsA for 24 hours, while S phase increased from (14 +/- 5)% to (28 +/- 8)% and apoptosis decreased from (8.7 +/- 2.2)% to (3.6 +/- 1.0)% when the culture in the same incubating condition lasted for 48 hours. Pseudopodia of the trophoblasts increased in number and length when they were incubated in culture medium containing 1 micromol/L of CsA for 48 hours, but decreased if the concentration reached to 10 micromol/L with the same incubating duration.
Conclusion: CsA is able to promote growth of first trimester human cytotrophoblasts and change their morphology, which appears to increase in invasive ability.