Proteolytic activity of first trimester human placenta: localization of interstitial collagenase in villous and extravillous trophoblast

In human placentation, events of implantation and early blastocyst development are mediated by fetal trophoblastic cells which penetrate into the maternal endometrium and myometrium. Although highly regulated in its biological behavior, trophoblast simulates a malignant neoplasm by virtue of invading the uterine wall and uterine spiral arteries and by embolizing throughout the systemic circulation. This process is at least in part dependant on the regulated production of proteolytic enzymes to degrade extracellular matrix. The most abundant extracellular protein is connective tissue type (interstitial) collagen. The uterine remodeling during the establishment of the embryo requires collagenase which catalyzes the initial step in the breakdown of collagen. This study demonstrates the presence of interstitial collagenase in villous and extravillous trophoblast of first trimester placenta using immunocytochemical methods on light microscopic and ultrastructural levels. Intracytoplasmic staining for interstitial collagenase was present in cyto- and syncytiotrophoblast covering the chorionic villi as well as in extravillous intermediate trophoblast invading spiral arteries in the placental bed. Furthermore, outgrowth cultures of chorionic villi were studied with the immunogold method. Gold labelling was associated with the cell surface of trophoblastic cells as well as with fibrillary collagen like proteins of newly synthesized extracellular matrix. We speculate that interstitial collagenase plays a role in the degradation of uterine collagen within the developing human placenta.