DOI 10.1095/biolreprod.101.001925 Effect of Matrigel on Human Extravillous Trophoblasts Differentiation: Modulation of Protease Pattern Gene Expression1

The human placenta is characterized by extensive tropho-blast invasion of the uterus. Indeed, extravillous cytotrophoblast cells invade the decidua and the upper third of uterine spiral arteries in the myometrium. This invasion is reflected in situ by the expression of specific markers. In order to study this inva-sion process, we have established an in vitro culture model of human extravillous trophoblast isolated from first trimester cho-rionic villi. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a composite matrix, the Matrigel required for the culture of this homogenous population of extravillous trophoblasts (EVCT), on their in vitro differentiation. The effect of Matrigel was studied on different markers characterized by immunocytochemistry and by real-time polymerase chain reaction assay of transcripts. In addition, the expression of 12 different matrix metallopro-teases and their inhibitors were investigated. We show that hu-man extravillous cytotrophoblasts acquire an invasive phenotype on Matrigel associated with a specific pattern of protease gene expression. This in vitro model will be of interest to study the cellular mechanisms involved in abnormal trophoblast invasion observed in poor placentation and preeclampsia. developmental biology, growth factors, placenta, trophoblas