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Mol. Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on November 29, 2007
Molecular Human Reproduction 2008 14(1):23-31; doi:10.1093/molehr/gam082
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
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Fine-scale quantification of HCG beta gene transcription in human trophoblastic and non-malignant non-trophoblastic tissues

K. Rull1,2, P. Hallast1, L. Uusküla1, J. Jackson3, M. Punab4, A. Salumets1,2,5, R.K. Campbell3 and M. Laan1,6

1Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Riia 23, 51010 Tartu, Estonia 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tartu, Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu, Estonia 3Department of Molecular Biology, EMD Serono Research Institute, One Technology Place, Rockland, MA 02093, USA 4Andrology Unit, Tartu University Hospital, Puusepa 1A, 50406 Tartu, Estonia 5Nova Vita Clinic, Centre for Infertility Treatment and Medical Genetics, Kaluri tee 5A, Viimsi vald, 74001 Harjumaa, Estonia

6 Correspondence address. Tel: +372-7-375008; Fax: +372-7-420286; E-mail: maris{at}ebc.ee

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is produced by syncytiotrophoblast of placenta. It delays the apoptosis of corpus luteum and functions in implantation. Its possible role in male reproduction has been raised. HCG beta subunit is encoded by CGB, CGB5, CGB7 and CGB8 genes located at 19q13.3 in a common genome cluster with beta subunit non-coding CGB1 and CGB2. We conducted a sensitive quantification and comparison of CGB gene expression in human trophoblastic (blastocysts, n = 6; normal/failed pregnancy, n = 51) and non-malignant non-trophoblastic tissues (15 different tissue types, samples n = 241), by real-time RT–PCR. We showed a wide transcriptional window of CGB genes in normal pregnancy, a significant reduction in recurrent miscarriages, and a high expression (especially CGB1/CGB2) in ectopic and molar pregnancies. Expression was several orders of magnitude lower in the non-placental tissues, with the highest CGB levels being seen in testis, prostate, thymus, skeletal muscle and lung samples. The contribution of CGB1/CGB2 to the summarized expression of six CGB genes was not proportional to their gene dosage: 1/1000 to 1/10 000. An interesting exception was the testis exhibiting a much higher CGB1/CGB2 to total CGB mRNA ratio of ~one-third, corresponding to gene dosage. In conclusion, the expressional profile of CGB genes, activated already in blastocyst stage, is associated with the status of pregnancy. The presence of CGB transcripts in testes, and in particular CGB1/CGB2 transcripts, may indicate a role in male reproductive tract.

Key words: chorionic gonadotropin beta genes/normal and failed pregnancy/trophoblastic and non-trophoblastic CGB expression/CGB in male reproduction

Submitted on September 21, 2007; resubmitted on October 25, 2007; accepted on November 26, 2007.


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