Expression of the factors LIF, IL-6, STA-3 and telomerase in choriocarcinomas

• Grant number: 09/10933-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2009
• End date: December 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Liliana Aparecida Lucci De Angelo Andrade
• Grantee: Liliana Aparecida Lucci De Angelo Andrade
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The invasion of the endometrium by extra vilous trophoblast is a fundamental process in the development of the fetus and placenta and is controlled by factors related to hormonal and immune activity. Changes in expression of these factors can result in interruption of normal pregnancy and open way for the called gestational trophoblastic disease. Some conditions, as a aggravant, can lead to considerable aggressiveness of malignancy. In these cases, there are strong indications of involvement of molecules linked to the fusion cell and inflammation. Studies are developed but, until now, no direct relations were established between the expression of these molecules, alone or in combination, and the several gestational trophoblastic diseases. Considering these issues, this project aims to study the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) of the interleukin-6 (IL-6), the activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) and the function of telomerase, to understand their participation in the invasion of the endometrium and the installation of gestational trophoblastic diseases. For both objectives, the expression levels of the mentioned molecules will be investigate in cell lines of choriocarcinoma and normal placentas. Such molecules are detected, located and quantified by immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western Blot (WB) and Repeated amplification of the telomerase (TRAP)assays. The biological materials for IHC will be obtained from fixed formalin biopsies and preserved in paraffin. For the reactions of Western Blott and TRAP, fresh material will be obtained from cell lines maintained and grown in the laboratory. The results will be compared, in situations of disease and normality, as follows: semi-quantitative analysis for the results of IHC, image processing of the WB and TRAP reactions and subsequent comparison of frequencies by chi-square. It is expected to help understanding the processes involved in cell fusion and its implications on alterations involved in neoplastic disease and pregnancy. (AU)