Examination of FERMT1 expression in placental chorionic villi and its role in HTR8-SVneo cell invasion

In this study, we examined the spatiotemporal pattern of expression of FERMT1 in human chorionic villi throughout gestation and its role in HTR8-SVneo substrate adhesion and invasion. Placental villous tissue was obtained from patients undergoing elective terminations at weeks 8–14, as well as from term deliveries at weeks 37–40 and analyzed by immunofluorescence. Additionally, HTR8-SVneo trophoblast cells were transfected with FERMT1-specific siRNA or non-targeting siRNA (control) and used in cell-subst rate adhesion as well as invasion assays. FERMT1 was primarily localized to membrane-associated regions at the base or around the periphery of the villous cytotrophoblast and proximal as well as distal cell column trophoblast. FERMT1 was also localized to endothelial cells of blood vessels in chorio nic villi. siRNA-mediated depletion of FERMT1 in HTR8-SVneo cells did not markedly alter HTR8-SVneo cell-substrate adhesion but did significantly decrease invasion (P <  0.05) compared to control cells. These novel findings identify the presence of the integrin activator FERMT1 in trophoblast cells and that FERMT1 can regulate HTR8-SVneo cell invasion. FERMT1 may directly influence integrin activation and the subsequent integrin-mediated signaling and differentia tion that underlies the acquisition of the invasive trophoblast phenotype in vivo.
Source: Histochemistry and Cell Biology - Category: Biomedical Science Source Type: research