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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

In Vitro Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Trophoblastic Cells

In Vitro Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Trophoblastic Cells

Published on: March 16, 2017

PTK7 marks the first human developmental EMT in vitro.

David N Chan¹, Soheila F Azghadi, Jun Feng

¹Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.

|December 5, 2012

Summary

Human pluripotent stem cells model early developmental epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs). This study identifies PTK7 as a novel marker for purified EMT cells, revealing plasticity in human development.

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Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Stem Cell Biology
Human Embryogenesis

Background:

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) are crucial for tissue diversity during fetal development.
Studying human in vivo EMTs at the molecular level is challenging.
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) resemble epiblast cells preceding primitive streak formation.

Purpose of the Study:

To model the first human epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro using pluripotent stem cells.
To investigate the molecular characteristics and plasticity of early human developmental EMTs.

Main Methods:

Generating embryoid bodies (EBs) from hESCs and hiPSCs.
Observing EMT events within 24-48 hours of EB formation.
Identifying and purifying PTK7-positive EMT populations.
Analyzing gene expression of EMT markers and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.
Assessing the plasticity of EMT cells through re-plating experiments.

Main Results:

Embryoid bodies derived from hESCs/hiPSCs exhibit a cascade of EMT events within 24-48 hours.
These EBs display hallmarks of developmental EMTs, primitive streak, and mesendoderm.
PTK7 is identified as a novel marker for this EMT population, enabling cell purification.
Gene expression analysis reveals upregulation of EMT markers and ECM proteins in PTK7+ cells.
Purified EMT cells retain developmental plasticity, reverting to an epithelial phenotype upon re-plating.

Conclusions:

Pluripotent stem cell-derived embryoid bodies provide a viable model for studying early human developmental EMTs in vitro.
PTK7 serves as a valuable marker for identifying and isolating human developmental EMT cells.
These findings offer insights into the molecular mechanisms and plasticity of human embryogenesis.