The reference human genome sequence set the stage for studies of genetic variation and
its association with human disease, but epigenomic studies lack a similar reference. To …

Cytotrophoblasts, specialized placental cells, proliferate early in pregnancy and then differentiate
into tumor-like cells that establish blood flow to the placenta by invading the uterus and …

Preterm birth is associated with 5 to 18% of pregnancies and is a leading cause of infant
morbidity and mortality. Spontaneous preterm labor, a syndrome caused by multiple pathologic …

The α chain of the human histocompatibility antigen HLA-G was identified as an array of five
37- to 39-kilodalton isoforms by the use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Both cell-…

The mammalian embryo cannot develop without the placenta. Its specialized cells (trophoblast,
endoderm, and extraembryonic mesoderm) form early in development. They attach the …

The implantation of fertilized ova and the formation of the placenta are crucial steps in
reproduction. This review summarizes current information about these steps, including some of the …

In human pregnancy, placental cytotrophoblasts that invade the uterus downregulate the
expression of adhesion receptors that are characteristic of their epithelial origin, and upregulate …

Verification of candidate biomarkers relies upon specific, quantitative assays optimized for
selective detection of target proteins, and is increasingly viewed as a critical step in the …

Establishment of the human placenta requires that fetal cytotrophoblast stem cells in anchoring
chorionic villi become invasive. These cytotrophoblasts aggregate into cell columns and …

Trophoblasts, the specialized cells of the placenta, play a major role in implantation and
formation of the maternal-fetal interface. Through an unusual differentiation process examined …