Trophoblast Stem Cells: Models for Investigating Trophectoderm Differentiation and Placental Development

The placenta is an ephemeral organ containing diverse populations of trophoblasts that are all derived from the embryonic trophectoderm but have morphological, functional, and molecular diversity within and across species. In hemochorial placentation, these cells play especially important roles, int...

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Published inEndocrine reviews Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 228 - 240
Main Authors Douglas, Gordon C, VandeVoort, Catherine A, Kumar, Priyadarsini, Chang, Tien-Cheng, Golos, Thaddeus G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Endocrine Society 01.05.2009
Copyright by The Endocrine Society
The Endocrine Society
Subjects
Animals
Cell Differentiation - physiology
Embryonic Stem Cells - cytology
Embryonic Stem Cells - physiology
Female
Humans
Placenta - cytology
Placenta - physiology
Placentation - genetics
Placentation - physiology
Pregnancy
Trophoblasts - cytology
Trophoblasts - physiology
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Summary:The placenta is an ephemeral organ containing diverse populations of trophoblasts that are all derived from the embryonic trophectoderm but have morphological, functional, and molecular diversity within and across species. In hemochorial placentation, these cells play especially important roles, interfacing with and modifying the cells of the maternal decidua. Within the rapidly growing placenta, it has been shown that there are trophoblast stem cells well characterized in the mouse and postulated but not well understood in primates. This review will discuss the characteristics of candidates for human and nonhuman primate trophoblast stem cells, present the diverse methods of their generation, and propose future prospects for experimental systems in which they can shed light on developmental and pathophysiological processes in human pregnancy.
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Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Thaddeus G. Golos, Ph.D., Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, 1223 Capitol Court, Madison, Wisconsin 53715-1299. E-mail: golos@primate.wisc.edu
ISSN:0163-769X
1945-7189
DOI:10.1210/er.2009-0001