Differentiation of derived rabbit trophoblast stem cells under fluid shear stress to mimic the trophoblastic barrier

The placenta controls exchanges between the mother and the fetus and therefore fetal development and growth. The maternal environment can lead to disturbance of placental functions, with consequences on the health of the offspring. Since the rabbit placenta is very close to that of humans, rabbit models can provide biomedical data to study human placental function. Yet, to limit the use of animal experiments and to investigate the mechanistic aspects of placental function, we developed a new cell culture model in which rabbit trophoblast cells are differentiated from rabbit trophoblast stem cells.

Rabbit trophoblast stems cells were derived from blastocysts and differentiated onto a collagen gel and in the presence of a flow of culture medium to mimic maternal blood flow. Transcriptome analysis was performed on the stem and differentiated cells.

Our culture model allows the differentiation of trophoblast stem cells. In particular, the fluid shear stress enhances microvilli formation on the differentiated cell surface, lipid droplets formation and fusion of cytotrophoblasts into syncytiotrophoblasts. In addition, the transcriptome analysis confirms the early trophoblast identity of the derived stem cells and reveals upregulation of signaling pathways involved in trophoblast differentiation.

Thereby, the culture model allows mimicking the in vivo conditions in which maternal blood flow exerts a shear stress on trophoblast cells that influences their phenotype.

Our culture model can be used to study the differentiation of trophoblast stem cells into cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts, as well as the trophoblast function in physiological and pathological conditions.