ABSTRACT: Global gene expression pattern in human first trimester primary villous cytotrophoblast cells (vCTBs) in comparison with human first trimester placental villous mesenchymal cells
Project description:Human cytotrophoblast organoid cultures were established from the villous trophoblast of first trimester placentas. We analyzed the global expression profile of the cytotrophoblast organoids (CTB-ORG) and compared to the profile of the tissue of origin i.e. villous cytotrophoblast (vCTB) as well as to differentiated syncytiotrophoblast (STB) and placental fibroblasts (FIB).
Project description:Identification of factors in conditioned media of first-trimester placental villous explants. Explants were cultured under hypoxia (2% O2), 5% CO2 in serum-free DMEM/F12 and treated with recombinant galectin-7 (1ug/ml) or vehicle control (BSA) for 72h. Identification of factors in conditioned media of first-trimester placental villous explants. Explants were cultured under superoxia (20% O2), 5% CO2 in serum-free DMEM/F12 and treated with recombinant galectin-7 (1ug/ml) or vehicle control (BSA) for 72h.
Project description:The phenotype of term, human placental extravillous trophoblast (EVT) reflects both the first trimester differentiation from villous cytotrophoblast (CTB) and later gestational changes, including the loss of proliferative and invasive capacity. Invasion abnormalities, as observed in preeclampsia and placenta accreta spectrum, are not usually diagnosed until the second or even third trimester of pregnancy. Characterization of the normal processes at term, including arrest of invasion is therefore crucial. In this report gene expression analysis demonstrates definitively the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism which underlies differentiation and provides a trophoblast-specific EMT signature. Methylation profiling shows that CTB, already hypomethylated relative to other somatic cells, show a further degree of hypomethylation in their transition to EVT. A small fraction of genes show both gain of methylation and changes in gene expression. Prominent are genes involved in the EMT such as the transcription factor RUNX1, loss of which leads to reduced migratory capacity in JEG3 trophoblast cells. Examination of these EMT genes leads us to suggest that the gains of methylation may assist in maintaining term EVT in a mesenchymal but non-invasive state.
Project description:The phenotype of term, human placental extravillous trophoblast (EVT) reflects both the first trimester differentiation from villous cytotrophoblast (CTB) and later gestational changes, including the loss of proliferative and invasive capacity. Invasion abnormalities, as observed in preeclampsia and placenta accreta spectrum, are not usually diagnosed until the second or even third trimester of pregnancy. Characterization of the normal processes at term, including arrest of invasion is therefore crucial. In this report gene expression analysis demonstrates definitively the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism which underlies differentiation and provides a trophoblast-specific EMT signature. Methylation profiling shows that CTB, already hypomethylated relative to other somatic cells, show a further degree of hypomethylation in their transition to EVT. A small fraction of genes show both gain of methylation and changes in gene expression. Prominent are genes involved in the EMT such as the transcription factor RUNX1, loss of which leads to reduced migratory capacity in JEG3 trophoblast cells. Examination of these EMT genes leads us to suggest that the gains of methylation may assist in maintaining term EVT in a mesenchymal but non-invasive state.
Project description:We showed that hypoxia directs first trimester primary villous cytotrophoblast (vCTB) differentiation preferentially towards HLAG+ extravillous trophoblast (EVT). Infection of primary vCTB with ARNT-specific shRNA attenuates this effect, suggesting a role of the intact HIF-complex in hypoxia-directed CTB differentiation into EVT.
Project description:Trophoblast organoids derived from placental villi provide a 3D model system of human placental development, but access to first-trimester tissues is limited. Here we report that trophoblast stem cells isolated from naïve human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can efficiently self-organize into 3D stem cell-derived trophoblast organoids (SC-TOs) with a villous architecture similar to primary trophoblast organoids. Single cell transcriptome analysis reveals the presence of distinct cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast clusters and a small cluster of extravillous trophoblasts, which closely correspond to trophoblast identities in the post-implantation embryo. These organoid cultures display clonal X chromosome inactivation patterns previously described in the human placenta. We further demonstrate that SC-TOs exhibit selective vulnerability to emerging pathogens (SARS-CoV-2 and Zika virus), which correlates with expression levels of their respective entry factors. The generation of trophoblast organoids from naïve hPSCs provides an accessible 3D model system of the developing placenta and its susceptibility to emerging pathogens.
Project description:Cells in culture will be exposed to S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC), a relevant metabolite of TCE. The first cell line used will be HTR-8/SVneo, originally derived from first trimester female human cytotrophoblast cells and immortalized with simian virus 40 large T antigen, this cell line models first-trimester placental extravillous trophoblasts in vitro. HTR-8/SVneo cells will be cultured for 24 hours followed by exposure to cell culture media (control) or 20 µM DCVC for 6 or 12 hours. Cells (cells frozen in cell culture dish) will then be collected (n=5) In the TCE aim of this study, we will utilize one cell model that phenotypically represents an important placental cell population.
Project description:Reduced or absent cytotrophoblast invasion of the maternal uterine spiral arteries is a common clinical finding in studies of pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, suggesting that the mechanisms behind invasion of these cells is perturbed. The placenta initially develops in a low oxygen environment of 1-2% oxygen until after the 10th week of pregnancy. During this time oxygen concentration exerts a major influence over trophoblast activity and, in vitro, hypoxia inducible factors are proposed to be one of many key regulators of first trimester trophoblast behaviour. We used a global gene expression microarray approach to identify signalling pathways involved in invasion of the first trimester trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo under hypoxic conditions where HIF-1 was active. Additionally, first trimester placental samples from different gestational age groups were labelled with anti HIF-1 and HIF-2 to evaluate whether HIFs are differentially expressed and localised across the period of development characterised by hypoxia (6-8 weeks) and maternal blood perfusion (10-12 weeks). Eighty-eight genes were differentially expressed between cells cultured in 1% oxygen (where HIF-1 was localised to the nucleus) and 5% oxygen (where HIF-1 was cytoplasmic). 65% of the genes were predicted to contain HIF-1α:ARNT transcription factor binding sites. Increased nuclear localisation of HIF-1α was seen in extravillous cytotrophoblasts in early first trimester compared with late, while cellular expression of HIF-2α in the villous stroma was higher in late first trimester. While HIFs and their downstream targets are clearly induced in trophoblasts during early placental development, and in vitro hypoxic conditions, the mechanism and pathways by which invasion is increased under hypoxic conditions is not clear from the gene expression profile. Further insight beyond the transcription level is required to fully understand this complex phenomenon.
Project description:Preeclampsia (PE) is the leading cause of prenatal morbidity and mortality. It is associated with defective trophoblast functions at implantation, but manifestation of its phenotypes is in late pregnancy. There is no reliable method for early prediction and treatment of PE. Adrenomedullin (ADM) is an abundant placental peptide in early pregnancy. Here, integrated single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics confirm a high ADM expression in the human villous cytotrophoblast. The levels of ADM in chorionic villi and serum were lower in first-trimester pregnant women who later developed PE than those with normotensive pregnancy. ADM stimulates differentiation of trophoblast stem cells and trophoblast organoids in vitro. In pregnant mice, placenta-specific ADM suppression led to PE-like phenotypes. The PE-like phenotypes in a mouse PE model were reduced by a novel placenta-specific nanoparticle-based forced expression of ADM. Our study reveals the roles of trophoblastic ADM in placental development, PE pathogenesis and its potential clinical uses.