Interleukin-17 Increased Progesterone Secretion by JEG-3 Human Choriocarcinoma Cells

JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell line has previously been reported to express a receptor for interleukin (IL)-17. The involvement of IL-17 in the production of progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin by placental trophoblast has not been investigated. The present study investigated the in vitro effect of IL-17 on progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secretion by JEG-3 cells. Both hormones were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The results showed that IL-17 significantly increased progesterone secretion at 6 (P < 0.001) and 24 (P < 0.01) hr, while this cytokine had no effect on hCG secretion. Interleukin-17 may regulate the function of JEG-3 cells through increased progesterone secretion.