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Apoptosis and Fas Expression in Human Fetal Membranes¹

Radmila Runi, Charles J. Lockwood, Linda LaChapelle, Bruno Dipasquale, Rita I. Demopoulos, Asok Kumar and Seth Guller

Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (R.R., C.J.L., L.L., S.G.), Pathology (B.D., R.I.D., A.K.), and Biochemistry (S.G.), New York University Medical Center, New York, New York 10016

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Seth Guller, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Medical Center, Tisch Hospital Room 531, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016.

Apoptosis (i.e. programmed cell death) plays a key role in maintaining reproductive function in the ovary, mammary and prostate glands, uterus, and testis. The purpose of the present report was to determine, based on biochemical and morphological parameters, whether cells in human fetal membranes undergo apoptosis and express Fas (CD95), a cell surface receptor that mediates apoptosis. Using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxy-UTP-nick end labeling immunohistochemical technique, apoptotic nuclei were identified in amnion epithelial, chorionic trophoblast, and decidua parietalis cell layers of human fetal membranes at term. Electron microscopy of fetal membranes revealed ultrastructural characteristics in amnion epithelium and chorion trophoblast cell layers consistent with apoptosis, including condensation of chromatin along the periphery of the nucleus and nuclear shrinkage. The apoptotic index (percentage of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxy-UTP-nick end labeling-positive nuclei of the total nuclei) ranged from 8–29% in amnion epithelial, chorionic trophoblast, and decidual cell layers from women at 23–30, 31–36, and 37–42 weeks gestation. The apoptotic index was statistically greater in the 37–42 week group than in the 23–30 week group in chorionic trophoblast (P < 0.05) and decidual cell (P < 0.01) layers. In contrast, the apoptotic index in the amnion epithelial cell layer was statistically greater (P < 0.05) in the 23–30 week group than in the 31–36 week group, suggesting that apoptosis may be independently regulated in amnion epithelial, chorionic trophoblast, and decidual cell types. Based on the importance of Fas in mediating apoptosis, we investigated whether Fas was expressed by human fetal membrane cells. Immunohistochemical staining of fetal membranes with anti-Fas antibody localized Fas in amnion epithelial, chorionic trophoblast, and decidua parietalis cell layers. A 266-bp band corresponding to the cytoplasmic domain of Fas was detected in samples of amnion, chorion, decidua, and placenta by RT-PCR. Northern blotting revealed a molecular weight of approximately 1.9 kilobases for Fas messenger ribonucleic acid in amniotic tissue. These data suggest that apoptosis and Fas signaling may play a role in remodeling of fetal membrane architecture across gestation.

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				S. Guller Apoptosis and Fas Expression in Human Fetal Membranes--Authors' Responsej J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1998; 83(10): 3761 - 3762. [Full Text]

				S. C. Smith Comment on Apoptosis and Fas Expression in Human Fetal Membranesi J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1998; 83(10): 3761a - 3761. [Full Text]