Development of a robust method to derive human trophoblast stem cells from late-gestation placentas and its application to preeclampsia

A Akira Oike (Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University) E Eri H. Kobayashi (Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine) Y Yasuhiro Yamamoto (Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University) H Hirotaka Hamada (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine) S Sota Takahashi (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine) T Takanori Shimizu (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine) A Akane Kitamura (Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine) A Asato Sekiya (Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University) N Norio Kobayashi (Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine) S Shun Shibata S Shun Endo (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine) T Tetsuya Sato N Naoto Kubota C Chie Kikutake (Division of Bioinformatics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University) M Mikita Suyama (Division of Bioinformatics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University) T Takahiro Arima (Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine) H Hiroaki Okae (Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University)

Abstract

Trophoblasts are multifunctional cells in the placenta and essential for normal pregnancy. Although trophoblast dysfunction can cause pregnancy complications, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and effective treatments are limited, partly because of the scarcity of appropriate experimental models. We previously reported the derivation of human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs) from 1st-trimester placentas and blastocysts, providing a powerful tool to investigate human trophoblast development and function. However, the difficulty in deriving hTSCs from late-gestation placentas has limited their application to pregnancy complication research. Here we report a robust technique to derive hTSCs from term placentas based on the transient expression of a p53 dominant negative mutant, SALL4, and shRNAs against cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. Using this technique, we derived and characterized hTSCs from placentas obtained from patients with early-onset preeclampsia (PE). PE-derived hTSCs exhibit impaired trophoblast invasion and reduced placental growth factor secretion, consistent with trophoblast abnormalities reported in PE. Therefore, this study provides a technological basis for investigating pregnancy complications associated with trophoblast dysfunction.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 24
Published June 16, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (17)

A

Akira Oike

Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University

E

Eri H. Kobayashi

Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

Y

Yasuhiro Yamamoto

Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University

H

Hirotaka Hamada

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

S

Sota Takahashi

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

T

Takanori Shimizu

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

A

Akane Kitamura

Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

A

Asato Sekiya

Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University

N

Norio Kobayashi

Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

S

Shun Shibata

S

Shun Endo

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

T

Tetsuya Sato

N

Naoto Kubota

C

Chie Kikutake

Division of Bioinformatics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University

M

Mikita Suyama

Division of Bioinformatics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University

T

Takahiro Arima

Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

H

Hiroaki Okae

Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University