Journal article

Publication year: 2009

Pages: 152-163

Journal: Laboratory Investigation

Volume number: 89

Issue number: 2

ISSN: 0023-6837

eISSN: 1530-0307

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/labinvest.2008.126

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
Placental vascular development begins very early in pregnancy and is characterized by construction of a primitive vascular network in a low-oxygen environment. In vitro three-component assays of this process are scarce. In this study, a complex three-dimensional spheroid model for in vitro studies of placental vasculogenesis with regard to cell-cell interactions between cytotrophoblasts (CTs), villous stromal cells and endothelial precursor cells was established. Microscopic and immunohistochemical analyses of the spheroids showed structural and differentiation patterns resembling the structure and differentiation of early placental chorionic villous tissue ( in regard to the expression of multiple markers cytokeratin-7, vimentin, CD34, CD31). The authenticity of this model to in vivo events allowed investigation of placental vascular development and trophoblast invasion under physiological and pathological conditions. Particularly enhanced spheroidal expression of SDF-1 alpha and its receptor CXCR4, the major chemokine system in embryonic vasculogenesis, in a low-oxygen environment was detected. In addition, our model confirmed previously described invasive phenotype of trophoblasts through collagen under low- (physiologic), but not high- (pathologic) oxygen concentrations. Therefore, the three-dimensional spheroid model consisting of major placental cell types proved to be an appropriate system to investigate early placental vessel development under both physiological and pathological conditions. Laboratory Investigation ( 2009) 89, 152-163; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2008.126; published online 15 December 2008

Harvard Citation style: Baal, N., Widmer-Teske, R., McKinnon, T., Preissner, K. and Zygmunt, M. (2009) In vitro spheroid model of placental vasculogenesis: does it work?, Laboratory Investigation, 89(2), pp. 152-163. https://doi.org/10.1038/labinvest.2008.126

APA Citation style: Baal, N., Widmer-Teske, R., McKinnon, T., Preissner, K., & Zygmunt, M. (2009). In vitro spheroid model of placental vasculogenesis: does it work?. Laboratory Investigation. 89(2), 152-163. https://doi.org/10.1038/labinvest.2008.126