Abstract

We investigated the expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptors and their involvement in the regulation of the serotonin transporter gene expression in human placenta. IL-1β is an activator of the serotonin transporter gene expression in JAR human placental choriocarcinoma cells as demonstrated by an increase in the steady-state levels of the transporter mRNA and in serotonin transport activity. This activation is blocked by IL-1 receptor antagonist. Genistein also blocks the effect of IL-1β, indicating involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation in the process. Treatment of JAR cells with IL-1β activates mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-κB. The nuclear factor-κB that is responsive to IL-1β in these cells is the p65 homodimer. Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that JAR cells and human placenta express type I and type II IL-1 receptors. The binding sites for¹²⁵I-IL-1β are localized predominantly in the maternal-facing brush border membrane of the syncytiotrophoblast. These results show that IL-1 in the maternal circulation is likely to play a critical role in the regulation of the serotonin transporter gene expression in the placenta.