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Updated: Oct 3, 2026
Derivation of Mouse Trophoblast Stem Cells from Blastocysts
Published on: June 8, 2010
ROCK inhibition suppresses host blastomere-mediated elimination and enhances trophoblast stem cell contribution in
Baoxing Dong1, Kuisheng Liu2, Chenxiang Xi2
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; College of Life Sciences Technology, Shandong Normal University, Shandong 250358, China.
Abstract:
Trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) play a crucial role in modeling the complex dynamics of maternal-fetal morphogenesis and placental development. However, their utility is hindered by low contribution rates in embryonic chimeras. Here, we reveal that during the 8-cell mouse embryo aggregation, host blastomeres selectively eliminate donor TSCs through an actin-dependent, phagocytic-like process and degrade them via lysosomal pathways, acting as a developmental quality-control mechanism. Notably, modulating cytoskeletal dynamics via Rho/ROCK pathway inhibition markedly suppresses this host-mediated clearance, enhancing donor TSC retention and contribution to extraembryonic tissues in pre- and post-implantation chimeras without compromising embryonic viability. Overall, our findings identify host blastomere-mediated elimination as an early barrier to TSC chimerism and establish transient ROCK inhibition as a strategy for improving TSC contribution during placental development.
