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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

In Vitro Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Trophoblastic Cells
Published on: March 16, 2017
The role of human endogenous retroviruses in trophoblast differentiation and placental development
N S Rote1, S Chakrabarti, B P Stetzer
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. neal.rote@uhhs.com
Abstract:
A major portion of the human genome appears to be of retroviral origin. These endogenous retroviral elements are expressed in a variety of normal tissues and during disease states, such as autoimmune and malignant conditions. Recently, potential roles have been described for endogenous retroviral envelope proteins in normal differentiation of human villous cytotrophoblast into syncytiotrophoblast. This article provides a brief critical review of the current state of knowledge concerning the expression of the env regions of three endogenous retroviral elements: ERV-3, HERV-W, and HERV-FRD. A testable model of villous cytotrophoblast differentiation is constructed, in which a complementary expression of endogenous retroviral envelope proteins initiates hCG production, decreased cell proliferation, and intercellular fusion.
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