Change in the expression of invasiveness-associated genes in early pregnancy and full-term trophocytes

AIM: To explore the mechanisms of invasiveness differences between early pregnancy and full term trophocytes. METHODS: The expression of invasiveness associated genes in early pregnancy and full term trophocytes cultured in vitro was investigated by RT PCR. RESULTS: It showed that early pregnancy trophocytes expressed matrix metalloproteinase(MMP 2, MMP 9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1(TIMP 1) and urokinase plasmin activator(uPA). PAI and TIMP 2 were expressed in full turm trophocytes. Moreover, the expressed level of TIMP 1 in full term trophocytes was significantly higher than that in early pregnancy trophocytes. CONCLUSION: The change of MMPs and TIMPs expression may be involved in the different invasiveness between early pregnancy and full term trophocytes.