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Signaling pathways in mouse and human trophoblast differentiation: a comparative review

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Abstract

The mouse is often used as a model for understanding human placentation and offers multiple advantages, including the ability to manipulate gene expression in specific compartments and to derive trophoblast stem cells, which can be maintained or differentiated in vitro. Nevertheless, there are numerous differences between the mouse and human placentas, only the least of which are structural. This review aims to compare mouse and human placentation, with a focus on signaling pathways involved in trophoblast lineage-specific differentiation.

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Abbreviations

CTB:

Cytotrophoblast

EGF:

Epidermal growth factor

EPC:

Ectoplacental cone

EVT:

Extravillous trophoblast

FAK:

Focal adhesion kinase

FGF:

Fibroblast growth factor

HGF:

Hepatocyte growth factor

HIF:

Hypoxia-inducible factor

ICM:

Inner cell mass

MEF:

Mouse embryonic fibroblast

PI3K:

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase

PKA:

Protein kinase A

STB:

Syncytiotrophoblast

TE:

Trophectoderm

TGC:

Trophoblast giant cell

TS:

Trophoblast stem (cells)

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by funds from a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine New Faculty Award (RN2-00931-1) and the National Institutes of Health (R01HD071100) to M.M.P.

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  1. Department of Pathology, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0695, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA

    Francesca Soncin & Mana M. Parast

  2. Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California San Diego, 2A03 Leichtag Biomedical Research Building, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0674, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA

    David Natale

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Correspondence to Mana M. Parast.

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Soncin, F., Natale, D. & Parast, M.M. Signaling pathways in mouse and human trophoblast differentiation: a comparative review. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 72, 1291–1302 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-014-1794-x

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