%0 Journal Article
%T Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase modulation of trophoblast cell differentiation
%A Lindsey N Kent
%A Toshihiro Konno
%A Michael J Soares
%J BMC Developmental Biology
%D 2010
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1471-213x-10-97
%X Prominent changes in gene expression accompanied the differentiation of trophoblast stem cells. PI3K modulated the expression of a subset of trophoblast cell differentiation-dependent genes. Among the PI3K-responsive genes were those encoding proteins contributing to the invasive and endocrine phenotypes of trophoblast giant cells.Genes have been identified with differential expression patterns associated with trophoblast stem cells and trophoblast cell differentiation; a subset of these genes are regulated by PI3K signaling, including those impacting the differentiated trophoblast giant cell phenotype.Hemochorial placental development is a complex process involving multiple signaling pathways. Effectively two placental compartments are established. One compartment contains trophoblast cells specialized for interactions with the maternal environment, while the other contains trophoblast cells directed toward the bidirectional transport of nutrients and wastes between the mother and the fetus. Trophoblast cells of the rat and mouse have the capacity to differentiate along a multi-lineage pathway. Cell lineages directed toward the maternal environment, include trophoblast giant cells, spongiotrophoblast, glycogen cells, and invasive trophoblast cells; whereas syncytial trophoblast regulate maternal-fetal nutrient and waste delivery [1-3]. Each lineage possesses specialized functions necessary for a normal pregnancy.Trophoblast giant cells are the first trophoblast lineage to differentiate [4]. Trophoblast giant cells are located at the maternal-fetal interface and have several functions. They produce steroid and peptide hormones [1] and have the ability to invade into the uterine vasculature [5,6].The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), pathway is involved in trophoblast cell development [7]. Upon differentiation of trophoblast cells, PI3K is activated leading to the phosphorylation and constitutive activation of AKT [7]. Inhibition of PI3K disr
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-213X/10/97