Adiponectin stimulates human trophoblast invasion

Adiponectin has been described as having the potential to regulate reproductive and placental processes, particularly the period of embryo implantation. Benaitreau and colleagues looked at the role of adiponectin in human trophoblast invasion using the HTR-8/SVneo cell line and human primary trophoblasts. They found that adiponectin stimulates trophoblast cell migration in a dose-independent manner, acting as a pro-invasive factor. Further, adiponectin modulates the matrix metalloproteinase/TIMP balance; increasing metalloproteinases which are responsible for the degradation of the endothelial extracellular matrix and decreasing the expression of TIMP2 mRNA which inhibits metalloproteinases. Benaitreau et al. (2010) Journal of Endocrinology 207, 51-59.

Read full article at: DOI: 10.1677/JOE-10-0170.