title: Review: An overview of molecular events occurring in human trophoblast fusion.
abstract: During human placentation, mononuclear cytotrophoblasts fuse to form a multinucleated syncytia ensuring hormonal production and nutrient exchanges between the maternal and fetal circulation. Syncytia formation is essential for the maintenance of pregnancy and for fetal growth. The trophoblast cell fusion process first requires the acquisition of cell fusion properties, then cells set up plasma membrane protein macrocomplexes and fusogen machinery that trigger cell-cell fusion. Numerous proteins have been shown to be directly involved in the initiation of trophoblast cell fusion. These proteins must expressed at the right time and in the right place to trigger cell-cell fusion. In this review, we describe the role of certain fusogenic protein macrocomplexes that form the scaffold for the fusogen machinery underlying human trophoblastic-lipid mixing and merging of cell contents that lead to cell fusion in physiological conditions.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1139, Paris F-75006, France; Université Paris Descartes, Paris F-75006, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerbaud
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1139, Paris F-75006, France; Université Paris Descartes, Paris F-75006, France. Electronic address: guillaume.pidoux@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pidoux
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication; D002459:Cell Fusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D010929:Placentation / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins
keywords: Cadherin; Cell fusion; Connexin-43; Human trophoblast; Syncytins; ZO-1; cAMP-PKA signaling