Talk:Trophoblast

Development and function of trophoblast giant cells in the rodent placenta

Int J Dev Biol. 2010;54(2-3):341-54.

Hu D, Cross JC.

Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Abstract Trophoblast giant cells (TGCs) are the first cell type to terminally differentiate during embryogenesis and are of vital importance for implantation and modulation of post-implantation placentation. TGCs are mononuclear and polyploid but are heterogenous and dynamic. At least four different subtypes of TGCs are present within the mature placenta that have distinct cell lineage origins. The development of TGCs is complex and requires transition from the mitotic to the endoreduplication cell cycle and is regulated by a wide variety of factors. During early gestation, TGCs mediate blastocyst attachment and invasion into the uterine epithelium, regulate uterus decidualization, and anatomosis with maternal blood spaces to form the transient yolk sac placenta. During later gestation, TGCs secrete a wide array of hormones and paracrine factors, including steroid hormones and Prolactin-related cytokines, to target the maternal physiological systems for proper maternal adaptations to pregnancy and the fetal-maternal interface to ensure vasculature remodeling. The large number of mouse mutants with defects in TGC development and function are giving us significant new insights into the biology of these fascinating cells.

PMID: 19876834 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19876834

http://www.ijdb.ehu.es/web/paper.php?doi=10.1387/ijdb.082768dh

Int J Dev Biol.

Vol. 54 Nos. 2/3 (2010) Placenta

http://www.ijdb.ehu.es/web/contents.php?vol=54&issue=2-3

Function of caspase-14 in trophoblast differentiation

Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2009 Sep 14;7:98.

White LJ, Declercq W, Arfuso F, Charles AK, Dharmarajan AM.

School of Anatomy and Human Biology, Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. yornup@gmail.com Abstract BACKGROUND: Within the human placenta, the cytotrophoblast consists of a proliferative pool of progenitor cells which differentiate to replenish the overlying continuous, multi-nucleated syncytiotrophoblast, which forms the barrier between the maternal and fetal tissues. Disruption to trophoblast differentiation and function may result in impaired fetal development and preeclampsia. Caspase-14 expression is limited to barrier forming tissues. It promotes keratinocyte differentiation by cleaving profilaggrin to stabilise keratin intermediate filaments, and indirectly providing hydration and UV protection. However its role in the trophoblast remains unexplored.

METHODS: Using RNA Interference the reaction of control and differentiating trophoblastic BeWo cells to suppressed caspase-14 was examined for genes pertaining to hormonal, cell cycle and cytoskeletal pathways.

RESULTS: Transcription of hCG, KLF4 and cytokeratin-18 were increased following caspase-14 suppression suggesting a role for caspase-14 in inhibiting their pathways. Furthermore, hCG, KLF4 and cytokeratin-18 protein levels were disrupted.

CONCLUSION: Since expression of these molecules is normally increased with trophoblast differentiation, our results imply that caspase-14 inhibits trophoblast differentiation. This is the first functional study of this unusual member of the caspase family in the trophoblast, where it has a different function than in the epidermis. This knowledge of the molecular underpinnings of trophoblast differentiation may instruct future therapies of trophoblast disease.

PMID: 19747408