Development of the human placenta

• Published in: Development (Cambridge) Vol. 146; no. 22
• Main Authors: Turco, Margherita Y, Moffett, Ashley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 15-11-2019
• Subjects: Animals; Bioengineering; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Differentiation; Cell Lineage; Decidua - physiology; Endometrium - pathology; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Humans; Immune System; Leukocytes - cytology; Mice; Organoids; Placenta - cytology; Placenta - physiology; Placentation; Pre-Eclampsia - physiopathology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Single-Cell Analysis; Trophoblasts - cytology; Trophoblasts - physiology; Uterus - pathology; Development; Maternal; Trophoblast; Placenta
• ISSN: 0950-1991; 1477-9129
• DOI: 10.1242/dev.163428

The placenta is essential for normal
development in mammals. In humans, defective placental formation underpins common pregnancy disorders such as pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction. The great variation in placental types across mammals means that animal models have been of limited use in understanding human placental development. However, new tools for studying human placental development, including 3D organoids, stem cell culture systems and single cell RNA sequencing, have brought new insights into this field. Here, we review the morphological, molecular and functional aspects of human placental formation, with a focus on the defining cell of the placenta - the trophoblast.