Development of the placental surface requires stress response genes

What is it about?

The placental surface develops under conditions of low oxygen and excursions to lower oxygen levels works through known stress response genes to guide necessary proper functions during early embryonic development. For example, nutrient and gas absorption and hormone secretion by surface syncytiotrophoblasts of the labyrinthine placenta, and their development from underlying trophoblast stem cells, relies upon stress response genes. In the mouse model, stress response genes can be knocked out, and in their absence the labyrinthine placenta does not develop and embryos die in early gestation.

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Why is it important?

Placental failure leads to miscarriage which is the largest form of loss of human life. This happens soon after implantation of the embryo into the uterus and when the placental surface makes contact with maternal blood. It is known that exponential increase of placental hormones at the surface, and their endocrine functions are required to increase maternal progesterone and its essential nutrition supplying functions at the site of the rapidly growing embryo and placenta. Exponential growth of the trophoblast stem cells and overlying syncytiotrophoblasts and placenta hormone, is required for exponential growth of the embryo during early development, Lower levels of stress can guide development and provide sufficient hormone, but prolonged stress can lead to irreversible differentiation of stem cells and their depletion may stunt growth and induce a stress secretome that induces the endometrial sensor to discontinue support of the implanting embryo.

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