Aim: 

HSP70 were recently investigated as early indicators for diagnosis and prognosis of placental pathologies, leading to unclear results. Aimed at providing a greater insight into protection mechanisms triggered by stressors in trophoblast cells

Methods: 

We performed a characterization of HSP70 gene and protein expressions in the human trophoblast-derived HTR-8/SVneo cells, used as a cell model. HSP70 response was evaluated in cells exposed to heat, the prototypical factor eliciting the HSP70 over-expression, or to inorganic arsenic (As), a relevant environmental stress factor known to reach placental tissues in vivo. Great attention is addressed to As effects during pregnancy, since intake of As-contaminated drinking water is related to spontaneous abortion, preterm birth and birth weight.

Results: 

According to the present study, the expression of the inducible while not of the constitutive HSP70 isoform was increased by heat; constitutive (hsc70) and multiple heat-inducible (hsp70A,B,C) genes displayed a different basal expression and sensitivity to thermal stress and to the presence/absence of serum. A 24-hour exposure to 10 mM As induced a significant HSP70 response evidenced at both protein and gene expression level; in particular the analysis of HSP70 mRNA expression showed the enhancement of hsp70B, hsp70C and also hsc70 transcripts, while hsp70A gene product was not detected. Our data support differential expression of the different HSP70 gene isoforms in HTR-8/SVneo cells exposed to As compared to the thermal stress.

Conclusion: 

We suggest that the analysis of multiple HSP70 mRNA expression patterns in placental tissues could serve as a sensitive indicator of physiological or pathological cell function modulations.