CXCR7 and syndecan-4 are potential receptors for CXCL12 in human cytotrophoblasts

Abstract The placenta forms the interface between the mother and the fetus. During placental development cytotrophoblasts differentiate to form the syncytium or to invade the decidual wall to breach maternal vessels and establish the blood flow in the intervillous space. This process is still not well understood but it is proposed that chemokines and their receptors are involved in guiding cytotrophoblasts to the decidua and maternal vessels as well as attracting immunocompetent cells to the implantation site. CXCL12 is a chemokine expressed by cytotrophoblasts and is involved in cytotrophoblast invasion, differentiation and survival. One of its receptors, CXCR4, has been detected on cytotrophoblasts. Recent data show that CXCR7 and syndecan-4 might partially mediate CXCL12 function in other cell types. In this study, we examined CXCR7 and syndecan-4 expression at the maternal–fetal interface via immmunolocalization in placental tissue sections and in isolated cytotrophoblasts. We further used immunoblot analyses to confirm the data. We were able to show that cytotrophoblasts express both receptors and that upregulation occurs during the differentiation process of cytotrophoblasts towards the invasive phenotype. On a functional level CXCR7 seems not to be involved in JAR cell chemotaxis, suggesting a different function of this receptor. In conclusion, we propose that CXCL12 binds to CXCR4, but also to CXCR7 and syndecan-4. These three receptors could mediate different functions of CXCL12, such as cell migration, directed invasion, proliferation and survival. The latter molecules might also be involved in the development of placental pathologies, such as preeclampsia or choriocarcinoma growth.