3D IN VITRO MODEL OF PLACENTAL IMPLANTATION USING FIRST-TRIMESTER TROPHOBLAST CELLS

• Grant number: 25/05503-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Jose Carlos Peraçoli
• Grantee: Gabriela de Oliveira Franco
• Supervisor: Gil Mor
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Wayne State University (WSU), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/01285-3 - INVOLVEMENT OF TNF RECEPTORS IN MONOCYTES POLARIZATION FROM PREGNANT WOMEN WITH PREECLAMPSIA, BP.MS

Abstract

Introduction: PE is characterized by systemic inflammation and an imbalance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors. The deficient invasion of trophoblast cells into the maternal endometrium is a key factor in the pathogenesis of PE, leading to hypoxia, oxidative stress, and an exaggerated maternal immune response. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this inadequate trophoblast invasion remain poorly understood. The development of models that mimic trophoblastic implantation, invasion, and migration becomes essential to understand this syndrome's etiology better. Objective: Learn a 3D in vitro model of placental implantation using first-trimester trophoblast cells, to apply it in studies on deficient implantation and the inflammatory environment that occurs in preeclampsia.Methodology: The study will utilize first-trimester human trophoblast cell lines (SW.71) cultured on 96-well plates to formation of blastocyst spheroids (BLS). BLS spheroids will be characterized by RT-qPCR analysis. Human endometrial stromal cells (HESC) and human endometrial epithelial cells (HEC-1A) will be cultured on 96-well plates to recreate the endometrium environment. To mimic the maternal-fetal interface, HESC cells will be cultured and overlaid with Matrigel before the addition of BLS spheroids. Trophoblast migration and invasion will be monitored using real time microscopy for 24 hours. Statistical analysis will be performed after conducting at least three independent experiments using the PRISM statistical program.