Project description:The goal of this study was to identify the gene expression signatures of two closely related types of trophoblast in human placentas: villous cytotrophoblasts (vCTB) and proximal column extravillous trophoblasts (pcEVT). The two populations were isolated from first trimester placentas and identified using the specific surface markers, EGFR (vCTB) and HLA-G (pcEVT).
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:Invasion of cytotrophoblasts into uterine tissues is essential for placental development. To identify molecules regulating trophoblast invasion, mRNA signatures of purified villous (CTB, poor invasiveness) and extravillous (EVT, high invasiveness) trophoblasts isolated from first trimester human placentae and villous explant cultures, respectively, were compared using GeneChip analyses yielding 991 invasion/migration related transcripts. Several genes involved in physiological and pathologic cell invasion, including ADAM-12,-19,-28 as well as Spondin-2, were upregulated in EVT. Pathway prediction analyses identified several functional modules associated with either the invasive or the non-invasive trophoblast phenotype. One of the genes which were downregulated in the invasive mRNA pool, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), was selected for functional analyses. Real-time PCR analyses, Western blottting, and immunofluorescene of first trimester placentae and differentiating villous explant cultures demonstrated downregulation of HO-1 in invasive EVT as compared to CTB. Modulation of HO-1 expression in loss-of as well as gain-of function cell models (BeWo and HTR8/SVneo, respectively) demonstrated an inverse relationship of HO-1 expression with trophoblast migration in transwell and wound healing assays. Importantly, HO-1 expression led to an increase in protein levels and activity of the nuclear hormone receptor PPARgamma. Pharmacological inhibition of PPARgamma abrogated the inhibitory effects of HO-1 on trophoblast migration. Collectively, our results demonstrate that gene expression profiling of EVT and CTB can be used to unravel novel regulators of cell invasion. Accordingly, we identify heme oxygenase-1 as a negative regulator of trophoblast motility acting via upregulation of PPARgamma. Experiment Overall Design: To identify genes potentially regulating cell invasion trophoblast cells of early human gestation with distinct invasive properties were profiled. Experiment Overall Design: Distinct gene expression signatures of highly invasive EVT (n = 6) and poorly invasive CTB (n = 5) of different first trimester placentae using Affymetrix U133A GeneChips interrogating >20,000 genes were determined.
Project description:Comparison of genes associated with the EMT between undifferentiated cytotrophoblast cells (CTB) and differentiated extravillous trophoblast cells (EVT) from third trimester human placenta. Cells isolated from control (placenta previa) and cases (preeclampsia). Cells isolated by immunomagnetic separation using anti-integrin beta4 antibody to purify CTB and anti-HLA-G antibody to purify EVT.
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:We show that FCM-BMP4-treated hESC differentiate into bona fide CTB by direct comparison to primary human placental tissues and isolated CTB through gene expresson profiling. We have compared gene expression profiling of FCM-BMP4-treated hESC to a panel of fetal tissues and first trimester tissues. Moreover, we have analysed the expression profiles of cells after shRNA knock-down of p63 compared to Scramble upon BMP4 treatment. Difference in expression between CTB trimester 1 / trimester 3 and PSC were compared the difference between FCM-BMP4-treated hESC and PSC at each time point collected.
Project description:Chromatin alterations are important mediators of gene expression changes. We have recently shown that activated non-canonical NF-κB signaling (RelB/p52) recruits histone acetyltransferase CBP and deacetylase HDAC1 to selectively acetylate H3K9 (H3K9ac) to induce expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 (PTGS2) in the human placenta. Both of these genes play a role in initiating. We performed chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by gene sequencing (ChIP-seq) in primary term human cytotrophoblast (CTB) with use of antibodies to RelB, CBP, HDAC1 and H3K9ac. We further associated these chromatin alterations with gene expression changes from mid-trimester to term in CTB by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). We detected a genome-wide differential gene enrichment between mid-trimester and term human placenta. Pathway analysis identified that cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, NF-κB, and TNF are the leading pathways enriched in term placenta and associated with these chromatin alterations. Our analysis has provided the first-time characterization of the key players of human placental origin with molecular changes resulting from chromatin modifications, which could drive human labor.
Project description:Comparison of genes associated with the EMT between cytotrophoblast cells (CTB) and extravillous trophoblast cells (EVT) from normal third trimester placenta and abnormally invasive placenta (AIP)
Project description:Invasion of cytotrophoblasts into uterine tissues is essential for placental development. To identify molecules regulating trophoblast invasion, mRNA signatures of purified villous (CTB, poor invasiveness) and extravillous (EVT, high invasiveness) trophoblasts isolated from first trimester human placentae and villous explant cultures, respectively, were compared using GeneChip analyses yielding 991 invasion/migration related transcripts. Several genes involved in physiological and pathologic cell invasion, including ADAM-12,-19,-28 as well as Spondin-2, were upregulated in EVT. Pathway prediction analyses identified several functional modules associated with either the invasive or the non-invasive trophoblast phenotype. One of the genes which were downregulated in the invasive mRNA pool, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), was selected for functional analyses. Real-time PCR analyses, Western blottting, and immunofluorescene of first trimester placentae and differentiating villous explant cultures demonstrated downregulation of HO-1 in invasive EVT as compared to CTB. Modulation of HO-1 expression in loss-of as well as gain-of function cell models (BeWo and HTR8/SVneo, respectively) demonstrated an inverse relationship of HO-1 expression with trophoblast migration in transwell and wound healing assays. Importantly, HO-1 expression led to an increase in protein levels and activity of the nuclear hormone receptor PPARgamma. Pharmacological inhibition of PPARgamma abrogated the inhibitory effects of HO-1 on trophoblast migration. Collectively, our results demonstrate that gene expression profiling of EVT and CTB can be used to unravel novel regulators of cell invasion. Accordingly, we identify heme oxygenase-1 as a negative regulator of trophoblast motility acting via upregulation of PPARgamma.
Project description:During pregnancy, trophoblasts in the placenta are important in the success of pregnancy. We identify an adhesion molucule, JAM-C, which expresses on membrane of column cytotrophoblasts and regulates the differentiation and migration of trophoblasts. Primary cytotrophoblasts isolated from 1st trimester villi were transfected with JAM-C or control plasmids. RNA-seq analysis was sujected to identify differentially expressed genes and pathways potentially altered.