Homeodomain protein HLX is expressed primarily in cytotrophoblast cell types in the early pregnancy human placenta

Abstract

Homeobox genes are a large family of transcription factors. Of these, the HLX homeobox gene (previously known as HLX1 and HB24) is important for normal placentation. We have previously shown that HLX mRNA expression is significantly reduced in fetal growth-restricted human placentae compared with control placentae. In this study, a rabbit polyclonal antibody to the homeodomain protein HLX was raised and characterised. Western analysis revealed a protein of 50 kDa. HLX protein was detected in cellular nuclei in the cytotrophoblast-derived cell lines HTR8/SVneo, SGHPL-4, JEG-3, JAR and BeWo. Dual labelling with cytokeratin 7 was used to determine the spatial distribution of HLX in the early pl..