Molecular determinants of epithelial mesenchymal transition in mouse placenta and trophoblast stem cell

Abstract Trophectoderm cells of the blastocyst are the precursor of the placenta that is comprised of trophoblast, endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Since trophoectoderm cells are epithelial in nature, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of trophoblast stem (TS) cells might play pivotal role...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shipra Kanti Jena, Shreya Das, Shreeta Chakraborty, Rupasri Ain
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37977-2
_version_ 1827905465940443136
author Shipra Kanti Jena
Shreya Das
Shreeta Chakraborty
Rupasri Ain
author_facet Shipra Kanti Jena
Shreya Das
Shreeta Chakraborty
Rupasri Ain
author_sort Shipra Kanti Jena
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Trophectoderm cells of the blastocyst are the precursor of the placenta that is comprised of trophoblast, endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Since trophoectoderm cells are epithelial in nature, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of trophoblast stem (TS) cells might play pivotal role in placental morphogenesis. However, the molecular regulation of EMT during placental development and trophoblast differentiation still remained elusive. In this report, we sought to identify the molecular signature that regulates EMT during placental development and TS cell differentiation in mice. On E7.5 onwards the TS cells, located in the ectoplacental cone (EPC), rapidly divide and differentiate leading to formation of placenta proper. Using a real time PCR based array of functional EMT transcriptome with RNA from mouse implantation sites (IS) on E7.5 and E9.5, it was observed that there was an overall reduction of EMT gene expression in the IS as gestation progressed from E7.5 to E9.5 albeit the levels of EMT gene expression were substantial on both days. Further validation of array results using real time PCR and western blot analysis showed significant decrease in EMT-associated genes that included (a) transcription factors (Snai2, Zeb1, Stat3 and Foxc2), (b) extracellular matrix and cell adhesion related genes (Bmp1, Itga5, Vcan and Col3A1), (c) migration and motility- associated genes (Vim, Msn and FN1) and (d) differentiation and development related genes (Wnt5b, Jag1 and Cleaved Notch-1) on E9.5. To understand whether EMT is an ongoing process during placentation, the EMT-associated signatures genes, prevalent on E 7.5 and 9.5, were analysed on E12.5, E14.5 and E17.5 of mouse placenta. Interestingly, expression of these EMT-signature proteins were significantly higher at E12.5 though substantial expressions was observed in placenta with progression of gestation from mid- to late. To evaluate whether TS cells have the potential to undergo EMT ex vivo, TS cells were subjected to EMT induction, which was confirmed using morphological analysis and marker gene expression. Induction of EMT in TS cells showed similar gene expression profile of placental EMT. These results have broad biological implications, as inadequate mesenchymal transition leading to improper trophoblast-vasculogenic mimicry leads to placental pathophysiology and pregnancy failure.
first_indexed 2024-03-13T00:43:04Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e41d10a15a814fd5bc98a0367ae6199f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2045-2322
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-13T00:43:04Z
publishDate 2023-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj.art-e41d10a15a814fd5bc98a0367ae6199f2023-07-09T11:14:14ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-07-0113111510.1038/s41598-023-37977-2Molecular determinants of epithelial mesenchymal transition in mouse placenta and trophoblast stem cellShipra Kanti Jena0Shreya Das1Shreeta Chakraborty2Rupasri Ain3Division of Cell Biology and Physiology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyDivision of Cell Biology and Physiology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyDivision of Cell Biology and Physiology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyDivision of Cell Biology and Physiology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical BiologyAbstract Trophectoderm cells of the blastocyst are the precursor of the placenta that is comprised of trophoblast, endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Since trophoectoderm cells are epithelial in nature, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of trophoblast stem (TS) cells might play pivotal role in placental morphogenesis. However, the molecular regulation of EMT during placental development and trophoblast differentiation still remained elusive. In this report, we sought to identify the molecular signature that regulates EMT during placental development and TS cell differentiation in mice. On E7.5 onwards the TS cells, located in the ectoplacental cone (EPC), rapidly divide and differentiate leading to formation of placenta proper. Using a real time PCR based array of functional EMT transcriptome with RNA from mouse implantation sites (IS) on E7.5 and E9.5, it was observed that there was an overall reduction of EMT gene expression in the IS as gestation progressed from E7.5 to E9.5 albeit the levels of EMT gene expression were substantial on both days. Further validation of array results using real time PCR and western blot analysis showed significant decrease in EMT-associated genes that included (a) transcription factors (Snai2, Zeb1, Stat3 and Foxc2), (b) extracellular matrix and cell adhesion related genes (Bmp1, Itga5, Vcan and Col3A1), (c) migration and motility- associated genes (Vim, Msn and FN1) and (d) differentiation and development related genes (Wnt5b, Jag1 and Cleaved Notch-1) on E9.5. To understand whether EMT is an ongoing process during placentation, the EMT-associated signatures genes, prevalent on E 7.5 and 9.5, were analysed on E12.5, E14.5 and E17.5 of mouse placenta. Interestingly, expression of these EMT-signature proteins were significantly higher at E12.5 though substantial expressions was observed in placenta with progression of gestation from mid- to late. To evaluate whether TS cells have the potential to undergo EMT ex vivo, TS cells were subjected to EMT induction, which was confirmed using morphological analysis and marker gene expression. Induction of EMT in TS cells showed similar gene expression profile of placental EMT. These results have broad biological implications, as inadequate mesenchymal transition leading to improper trophoblast-vasculogenic mimicry leads to placental pathophysiology and pregnancy failure.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37977-2
spellingShingle Shipra Kanti Jena
Shreya Das
Shreeta Chakraborty
Rupasri Ain
Molecular determinants of epithelial mesenchymal transition in mouse placenta and trophoblast stem cell
Scientific Reports
title Molecular determinants of epithelial mesenchymal transition in mouse placenta and trophoblast stem cell
title_full Molecular determinants of epithelial mesenchymal transition in mouse placenta and trophoblast stem cell
title_fullStr Molecular determinants of epithelial mesenchymal transition in mouse placenta and trophoblast stem cell
title_full_unstemmed Molecular determinants of epithelial mesenchymal transition in mouse placenta and trophoblast stem cell
title_short Molecular determinants of epithelial mesenchymal transition in mouse placenta and trophoblast stem cell
title_sort molecular determinants of epithelial mesenchymal transition in mouse placenta and trophoblast stem cell
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37977-2
work_keys_str_mv AT shiprakantijena moleculardeterminantsofepithelialmesenchymaltransitioninmouseplacentaandtrophoblaststemcell
AT shreyadas moleculardeterminantsofepithelialmesenchymaltransitioninmouseplacentaandtrophoblaststemcell
AT shreetachakraborty moleculardeterminantsofepithelialmesenchymaltransitioninmouseplacentaandtrophoblaststemcell
AT rupasriain moleculardeterminantsofepithelialmesenchymaltransitioninmouseplacentaandtrophoblaststemcell