Cell dynamics in human villous trophoblast

AbstractBACKGROUNDVillous cytotrophoblast (vCTB) is a precursor cell population that supports the development of syncytiotrophoblast (vSTB), the high surface area barrier epithelium of the placental villus, and the primary interface between maternal and fetal  tissue. In light of increasing evidence that the placenta can adapt to changing maternal environments or, under stress, can trigger maternal disease, we consider what properties of these cells empower them to exert a controlling influence on pregnancy progression and outcome.OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALEHow are cytotrophoblast proliferation and differentiation regulated in the human placental villus to allow for the increasing demands of the fetal  and environmental challenges and stresses that may arise during pregnancy?SEARCH METHODSPubMed was interrogated using relevant keywords and word roots combining trophoblast, villus/villous, syncytio/syncytium, placenta, stem, transcription factor (and the individual genes), signalling, apoptosis, autophagy (and the respective genes) from 1960 to the present. Since removal of trophoblast from its tissue environment is known to fundamentally change cell growth and differentiation kinetics, research that relied exclusively on cell culture has not been the main focus of this review, though it is mentioned where appropriate. Work on non-human placenta is not systematically covered, though mention is made where relevant hypotheses have emerged.OUTCOMESThe synthesis of data from the lit...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - Category: OBGYN Source Type: research