title: Preparation and functional characterization of villous cytotrophoblasts free of syncytial fragments.
abstract: Recent studies suggest that purified villous cytotrophoblasts are largely contaminated by mononucleated syncytial fragments and therefore unsuitable for studies of trophoblast differentiation. We assessed highly purified (>99.99 per cent) populations of villous trophoblasts for fragment contamination using the syncytial markers placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP, by immunohistochemistry) and exteriorized phosphatidyl serine (ePS, by flow cytometric analysis). The preparations contained from 4-46 per cent syncytial fragments. However, we find that PLAP negative cells preferentially adhere to tissue culture surfaces and that all preparations were <2 per cent PLAP positive after routine plating and washing procedures. A second purification procedure eliminated dead (propidium iodide permeable) cells and separated viable syncytial fragments (ePS-positive) from viable cytotrophoblasts (ePS-negative) by two colour fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Viable ePS-positive cells were ultrastructurally apoptotic, adhered poorly in culture and those that adhered rapidly underwent apoptosis. Viable ePS-negative cells contained large heterochromic nuclei and cytoplasmic structures, adhered strongly in culture and remained viable. The latter population (putative true villous CT) differentiated into syncytialized cells when cultured with EGF. We conclude that villous CT can be routinely purified, are viable in culture and can undergo syncytial fusion without extensive preformed syncytium.
authors.affiliation: Perinatal Research Centre, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2S2. Larry.Guilbert@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Guilbert
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winkler-Lowen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sherburne
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Rote
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Morrish
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; C019839:alkaline phosphatase, placental