Abstract
The placenta is the organ that mediates and regulates nutrition of the growing fetus during pregnancy. To accomplish this function, specialized cells of the placenta (called trophoblast) invade into the surrounding tissue and redirect the maternal blood circulation towards the embryo. Providing the fetus with the correct amount of blood is critical for the outcome of pregnancy. Our porject investigates the precise molecular role of two specific genes in the process of placental cell invasion and their role in establishing the connection to the blood supply. The two genes under investigation promote differentiation of the invasive placental cell type. They are also likely to affect the development of the blood vessels that carry maternal blood including oxygen and nutrients towards the placenta. The experiments are aimed to analyze the capacity of these genes to enhance the cells’ capacity to invade into surrounding tissue. Their impact on number and density of blood vessels that support embryonic (or tumour) growth will be examined. Human placental malformations and placenta-derived tumours will be analyzed for a potential deregulation of members of this gene family. This analysis will help us gain insights into the differentiation of invasive trophoblast cells and their vascular interactions that are of critical importance for the success of pregnancy.
United Kingdom