Epigenomic variation in the placenta of SGA infants and the generation of SGA-specific placental models

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K16782
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University (2023); Tohoku University (2021-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Oike Akira 熊本大学, 発生医学研究所, 助教 (90884552)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 低出生体重児(SGA) / ヒト栄養膜幹細胞 / 三次元ヒト胎盤モデル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, to elucidate the pathological mechanisms of small for gestational age (SGA) placentas, we first purify the constitutive cells of SGA placentas and analyze the epigenomic mutational features of these placental cells, particularly the DNA methylation of genomic imprinting genes. Next, SGA-specific TS cell models derived from SGA placentas are generated and their cellular characteristics are elucidated. Furthermore, we tried to establish the three-dimensional culture of SGA-specific TS cells that recapitulate the pathological conditions of SGA placenta.

Free Research Field

発生生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

妊娠初期におこる低出生体重児(SGA)胎盤の病因メカニズムをSGA疾患特異的な栄養膜幹(TS)細胞を作製し、分子レベルで解明した。特に、満期胎盤からのTS細胞の樹立はSGAのみならず、妊娠高血圧腎症などのさまざまな周産期疾患の病態を試験管内で再現することができると期待でき、それら疾患の分子メカニズムの解明に大いに役立てることができる。また、疾患特異的なTS細胞は、胎盤の発生不全を原因とするさまざまな周産期疾患の新たな創薬ターゲットの探索や新規治療法の開発に役立つと期待できる。