Effect of nuclear factor-kappa B inhibitors and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ligands on PTHrP release from human fetal membranes

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) has been implicated in many processes during normal and pathological pregnancies. In the human fetal membranes, PTHrP exhibits cytokine-like actions. We have recently shown that inhibitors of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and activators of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ signalling pathways down-regulate cytokine release from human gestational tissues. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether NF-κB and PPAR-γ also regulate PTHrP release from human fetal membranes. Human amnion and choriodecidua explants were incubated in the absence (control) or presence of two known NF-κB inhibitors (1, 5 and 10 mM sulphasalazine (SASP) or 5, 10 and 15 mM N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)), and two PPAR-γ ligands (15 and 30 μM 15-deoxy-Δ 12,14-PGJ 2 (15d-PGJ 2) or 15 and 30 μM troglitazone), under basal conditions. After 18 h incubation, the tissues were collected and NF-κB p65 DNA binding activity in nuclear extracts was assessed by ELISA, and the incubation medium was collected and the release of PTHrP was quantified by RIA. Treatment of amnion and choriodecidual tissues with SASP concentrations greater than 5 mM, 15 mM NAC, 30 μM 15d-PGJ 2 and 30 μM troglitazone significantly reduced the release of PTHrP (