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Updated: Nov 9, 2025
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In Vitro Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Trophoblastic Cells
Published on: March 16, 2017
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Capturing human trophoblast development with naive pluripotent stem cells in vitro
Shingo Io1, Mio Kabata2, Yoshiki Iemura2
1Department of Life Science Frontiers, CiRA, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan.
Cell Stem Cell
|April 8, 2021
Summary
Naive human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) authentically model early human trophoblast development, recapitulating key differentiation stages. This system offers a platform for studying placental development and related diseases.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Trophoblasts are crucial extraembryonic cells for pregnancy maintenance.
- Human trophoblasts differentiate from trophectoderm (TE) into various placental cell types post-implantation.
- Existing models have limitations in fully recapitulating human trophoblast development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether naive human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can recapitulate human trophoblast development.
- To compare trophoblast development from naive PSCs versus primed PSCs.
- To establish a reliable system for studying trophoblast differentiation and associated diseases.
Main Methods:
- Utilized naive and primed human PSCs.
- Induced trophoblast differentiation using specific signaling pathways (e.g., BAP treatment for primed PSCs).
- Characterized cell types using established markers and functional assays.
Main Results:
- Naive PSCs successfully recapitulated human and monkey TE-to-CT transition, generating naive CTs (nCTs).
- nCTs exhibited self-renewal and characteristics of proliferating villous CTs and first-trimester CTs.
- Primed PSCs differentiated into trophoblast-like cells (pBAPs) but showed distinct properties, resembling amnion cells rather than CTs.
Conclusions:
- Naive human PSCs provide an authentic model for human trophoblast development.
- This system accurately mimics TE-to-CT transition and generates functional CT stem cells.
- The findings highlight the distinct developmental potential of naive versus primed PSCs in trophoblast lineage specification and offer a valuable research platform.
