In accordance with the protein expression data (Fig. 1d, e), overexpression of RGS2 by transfection or lentivirus-mediated infection significantly upregulated aromatase mRNA expression in JEG-3 cells and in cultured human cytotrophoblasts (CTBs), respectively (Fig. 2a, b), while inhibition of RGS2 by transfection of RGS2 siRNA effectively downregulated aromatase mRNA expression in JEG-3 cells (Fig. 2c), suggesting that RGS2 might affect aromatase transcription and that the altered protein levels of aromatase could be derived from changes in its mRNA levels. Here, CYP19A1 is linked to infection.