Single-nucleus multi-omic profiling of human placental syncytiotrophoblasts identifies cellular trajectories during pregnancy [placenta-ncbi-cell-line_scRNA-seq_snRNA-seq]
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE247037 | GEO | 2023/11/09
REPOSITORIES: GEO
Similar Datasets
Project description:The human placenta plays vital roles in ensuring a successful pregnancy. Despite the growing body of knowledge about its cellular compositions and functions, however, there has been limited research on the heterogeneity of the billions of nuclei within the syncytiotrophoblast (STB), a multinucleated entity primarily responsible for placental function. Here, we conducted integrated snRNA-seq and snATAC-seq on human placentas from early and late pregnancy. Our findings demonstrate the dynamic heterogeneity and developmental trajectories of STB nuclei and their presence in human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs)-derived STB. Furthermore, we identified transcription factor (TF) motifs that are biased towards diverse STB nuclear lineages through their associated gene regulatory networks. The role of these TFs in STB differentiation were confirmed in the hTSCs- and trophoblast organoid-derived STB. Together, our data provide valuable insights into the heterogeneity of human STB and represents a valuable resource for interpreting its associated pregnancy complications.
2023-11-09 | GSE247036 | GEO
Project description:The human placenta plays vital roles in ensuring a successful pregnancy. Despite the growing body of knowledge about its cellular compositions and functions, however, there has been limited research on the heterogeneity of the billions of nuclei within the syncytiotrophoblast (STB), a multinucleated entity primarily responsible for placental function. Here, we conducted integrated snRNA-seq and snATAC-seq on human placentas from early and late pregnancy. Our findings demonstrate the dynamic heterogeneity and developmental trajectories of STB nuclei and their presence in human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs)-derived STB. Furthermore, we identified transcription factor (TF) motifs that are biased towards diverse STB nuclear lineages through their associated gene regulatory networks. The role of these TFs in STB differentiation were confirmed in the hTSCs- and trophoblast organoid-derived STB. Together, our data provide valuable insights into the heterogeneity of human STB and represents a valuable resource for interpreting its associated pregnancy complications.
2023-11-09 | GSE247035 | GEO
Project description:We reveal that STB which differentiated from hTSCs could recapitulate morphogenetic events that physiologically occur during human embryo implantation. STB could also recapitulate the genetic signature of trophoblast differentiation during implantation. It will provide a reliable model to investigate the syncytialization of trophoblast during implantation. Our discovery was potentially valuable in advancing not only our current understanding of implant progression but also paying the way to investigate recurrent implantation failure.
2022-05-05 | GSE165131 | GEO
Project description:Multinucleated syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), which are in direct contact with maternal blood, constitute the maternal-fetal interface critical for nutrient allocation, hormone production and immunological modulation during pregnancy. However, the genetic and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms governing trophoblast syncytialization remain largely elusive. We delineate that endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), which have been exapted as regulatory sequences for specific functional adaptations in placenta, profoundly rewire transcriptional program of trophoblast syncytialization. Here, we first determined dynamic bivalent ERV-derived enhancers with dual occupancy of H3K9me3 and H3K27ac in human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs), which emerge as cell specific regulators of gene expression with markedly resolved H3K9me3 during differentiation towards STBs. Of note, bivalent enhancers derived from the Simiiformes-specific MER50 transposons were linked to a cluster of STB-specific genes. Importantly, depletions of MER50 elements adjacent to several STB genes, including MFSD2A, TNFAIP2 and RAI14, significantly attenuated their expression concomitant to dysregulated syncytium formation. Together, we propose that ERV-derived enhancers, MER50 specifically, fine-tune the transcriptional program accounting for human trophoblast syncytialization, which sheds light on novel epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying placental development.
2023-02-03 | GSE209976 | GEO
Project description:Multinucleated syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), which are in direct contact with maternal blood, constitute the maternal-fetal interface critical for nutrient allocation, hormone production and immunological modulation during pregnancy. However, the genetic and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms governing trophoblast syncytialization remain largely elusive. We delineate that endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), which have been exapted as regulatory sequences for specific functional adaptations in placenta, profoundly rewire transcriptional program of trophoblast syncytialization. Here, we first determined dynamic bivalent ERV-derived enhancers with dual occupancy of H3K9me3 and H3K27ac in human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs), which emerge as cell specific regulators of gene expression with markedly resolved H3K9me3 during differentiation towards STBs. Of note, bivalent enhancers derived from the Simiiformes-specific MER50 transposons were linked to a cluster of STB-specific genes. Importantly, depletions of MER50 elements adjacent to several STB genes, including MFSD2A, TNFAIP2 and RAI14, significantly attenuated their expression concomitant to dysregulated syncytium formation. Together, we propose that ERV-derived enhancers, MER50 specifically, fine-tune the transcriptional program accounting for human trophoblast syncytialization, which sheds light on novel epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying placental development.
2023-02-03 | GSE209975 | GEO
Project description:Nutrient sensing and adaptation in the placenta are essential for pregnancy viability and proper fetal growth. Our recent research demonstrates that the placenta adapts to nutrient insufficiency through mTOR inhibition-mediated trophoblast differentiation toward syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), a highly specialized multinucleated trophoblast subtype directing extensive maternal-fetal interactions. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we unravel the indispensable role of the mTORC1 downstream transcriptional factor TFEB in STB formation both in vitro and in vivo. Endogenous TFEB deficiency significantly impaired STB differentiation in trophoblast cells and placenta organoids. Mechanistically, TFEB conferred direct transcriptional regulation of the fusogen ERVFRD-1 in human trophoblasts and thereby profoundly promoted STB formation, independent of its canonical function as a master regulator of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. In line with the in vitro findings, systemic or trophoblast-specific deletion of Tfeb compromised STB formation and placental vascular construction, leading to severe embryonic lethality. Moreover, TFEB directs the trophoblast syncytialization response driven by mTORC1 signaling. Importantly, TFEB expression positively correlates with the reinforced trophoblast syncytialization in human fetal growth restriction (FGR) placentas exhibiting suppressed mTORC1 activity. Our findings substantiate that the TFEB-fusogen axis ensures proper STB formation during placenta development and under nutrient stress, shedding light on TFEB as a mechanistic link between nutrient-sensing machinery and trophoblast differentiation.
2024-06-16 | GSE252253 | GEO
Project description:Nutrient sensing and adaptation in the placenta are essential for pregnancy viability and proper fetal growth. Our recent research demonstrates that the placenta adapts to nutrient insufficiency through mTOR inhibition-mediated trophoblast differentiation toward syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), a highly specialized multinucleated trophoblast subtype directing extensive maternal-fetal interactions. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we unravel the indispensable role of the mTORC1 downstream transcriptional factor TFEB in STB formation both in vitro and in vivo. Endogenous TFEB deficiency significantly impaired STB differentiation in trophoblast cells and placenta organoids. Mechanistically, TFEB conferred direct transcriptional regulation of the fusogen ERVFRD-1 in human trophoblasts and thereby profoundly promoted STB formation, independent of its canonical function as a master regulator of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. In line with the in vitro findings, systemic or trophoblast-specific deletion of Tfeb compromised STB formation and placental vascular construction, leading to severe embryonic lethality. Moreover, TFEB directs the trophoblast syncytialization response driven by mTORC1 signaling. Importantly, TFEB expression positively correlates with the reinforced trophoblast syncytialization in human fetal growth restriction (FGR) placentas exhibiting suppressed mTORC1 activity. Our findings substantiate that the TFEB-fusogen axis ensures proper STB formation during placenta development and under nutrient stress, shedding light on TFEB as a mechanistic link between nutrient-sensing machinery and trophoblast differentiation.
2024-06-16 | GSE252252 | GEO
Project description:Nutrient sensing and adaptation in the placenta are essential for pregnancy viability and proper fetal growth. Our recent research demonstrates that the placenta adapts to nutrient insufficiency through mTOR inhibition-mediated trophoblast differentiation toward syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), a highly specialized multinucleated trophoblast subtype directing extensive maternal-fetal interactions. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we unravel the indispensable role of the mTORC1 downstream transcriptional factor TFEB in STB formation both in vitro and in vivo. Endogenous TFEB deficiency significantly impaired STB differentiation in trophoblast cells and placenta organoids. Mechanistically, TFEB conferred direct transcriptional regulation of the fusogen ERVFRD-1 in human trophoblasts and thereby profoundly promoted STB formation, independent of its canonical function as a master regulator of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. In line with the in vitro findings, systemic or trophoblast-specific deletion of Tfeb compromised STB formation and placental vascular construction, leading to severe embryonic lethality. Moreover, TFEB directs the trophoblast syncytialization response driven by mTORC1 signaling. Importantly, TFEB expression positively correlates with the reinforced trophoblast syncytialization in human fetal growth restriction (FGR) placentas exhibiting suppressed mTORC1 activity. Our findings substantiate that the TFEB-fusogen axis ensures proper STB formation during placenta development and under nutrient stress, shedding light on TFEB as a mechanistic link between nutrient-sensing machinery and trophoblast differentiation.
2024-06-16 | GSE252251 | GEO
Project description:Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy results in an increased risk of spontaneous abortion and vertical transmission across placenta results in severe congenital defects in newborns. While the infectivity and pathological effects of ZIKV on the placental trophoblast progenitor cells in early human embryos remains largely unknown. Here, using the human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs) isolated from human blastocyst, we showed that hTSCs were permissive to ZIKV infection, while resistance to ZIKV increased with differentiation. Combined CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout and RNA-seq assays, we demonstrated that the intrinsic expression of AXL and TIM-1, as well as the absence of potent interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs), contributed to the high sensitivity of hTSCs to ZIKV. Furthermore, using our newly developed hTSC-derived 3 dimensional (3D) placental trophoblast organoid model, we demonstrated that ZIKV infection completely disrupted the structure of mature hTSC-organoids and inhibited syncytialization. Overall, our results clearly demonstrated that hTSCs represented the major target cells of ZIKV, and a possible reduced syncytialization may result from ZIKV infection of early developing placenta. These findings deepened our understanding of the characteristics and consequences of ZIKV infection of trophoblast stem cells in early human embryo.
2023-08-03 | GSE229702 | GEO
Project description:Purpose: Syncytiotrophoblast (STB) is a multi-nucleated, terminally differentiated syncytium that covers the surface of the villous placenta and forms the major interface with maternal blood. It releases placental hormones and plays a primary role in exchange of gases, nutrients and waste products. Alterations in STB development and turnover have been implicated in placental diseases, including preeclampsia (PE). In vitro cell models are badly needed to study STB development and physiology due to inaccessibility to placental tissues during gestation. To establish in vitro STB model system, we generate STB and its mononucleated precursors from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and profile for RNA content by RNAseq. Methods: H1 Human ESC (WA01) were treated with BMP4, the ALK4/5/7 inhibitor (A83-01), and the FGF2 signaling inhibitor (PD173074) (BAP) to direct them to the trophoblast lineage and provided both STB and extravillous trophoblast. Syncytial areas emerged at day 8 BAP treatment ranged in diameter from ~40 µm to > 100 µm. The intact syncytial areas were isolated by sieving successively through 70 μm and 40 μm mesh cell strainers. The captured cells are recovered by inverting the strainer and rinsing with culture medium to separate large (>70 μm) and middle size cell sheets (40-70 μm). The fraction that passes through both sieves represents cells of smallest diameter (< 40 μm), presumably cytotrophoblast. Total 12 RNA samples from triplicate three size-fractioned BAP treated and three untreated hESC cultured in a FGF2 supplemented medium in parallel were analyzed. Results: The larger > 70 μm areas stained positively for STB markers while ultrastructural analysis clearly revealed multi-nuclear cells with an extensive cytoplasm containing many prominent secretion granules. The larger STB areas also had a larger DNA content that > 70 μm fraction contained 37 times more nuclear content and 40-70 µm fraction did 16 times more. Compared to the < 40 μm cell fraction, these larger cells over-expressed a full repertoire of genes characteristic of STB, e.g. CGA, CGB, PGF, ERVW1, GCM1. The smallest cell fraction had a DNA content consistent with mononuclear diploid cells, contained few secretory granules, and were only weakly positive for STB markers. Conclusion: The data are consistent with the > 70 μm cells being mature STB, while the intermediate fraction may represent a precursor population. Human ESC directed along the trophoblast lineage by BAP treatment offers a useful model for following STB formation in vitro and suggest that this protocol may have utility in studying the basis of certain placental diseases, especially preeclampsia, where placental tissue isolated at term or after pregnancy terminations can only offer limited information. Three size fraction mRNA profiles of syncytial areas emerged at day 8 BAP treatment of hESC were generated by deep sequencing along with untreated hESC, in triplicate, using Illumina HiSeq 2500.
2016-04-06 | E-GEOD-72712 | biostudies-arrayexpress