Immunoglobulins from sera of APS patients bind HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cell line and reduce additional mediators of cell invasion

Immunoglobulins from sera of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) decrease trophoblast cell invasion in vitro. This study aimed to extend understanding of cellular effects of immunoglobulins from APS (aPL+) in HTR-8/SVneo cells. aPL+ IgG induced change in effector molecules important for cell invasion was investigated further. After 1 h of culture 21% cells bound aPL+ IgG, as opposed to 6% in control (aPL−). This was accompanied by increase in phospho-p38 at 30 min. After 24 h treatment aPL + IgG decreased protein levels of integrin subunits α1 (78% of control; p < 0.01), α4 (65% of control, p < 0.01), α5 (76% of control; p < 0.01) and β1 (80% of control; p < 0.01), and secreted gal-1 (68% of control; p < 0.05). ProMMP-9 was reduced to 70% of control (p < 0.001). Treatment with inhibitor of p38 MAPK signaling SB202190 reversed inhibition in integrin β1 and secreted gal-1. Involvement of p38 MAPK signaling and decrease in integrin subunit α4, proMMP-9, and secreted gal-1 in HTR-8/SVneo cells are novel and extend the list of mediators of trophoblast invasion affected by aPL.