Dissecting Human Trophoblast Differentiation Via Genetic Screens
Defective placental development is the primary cause of the great obstetric syndromes (GOSs) and is a major contributor to intrauterine lethality. However, the mechanisms of human placental development are largely unknown. Recently developed protocols have allowed the maintenance of human placental trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) in vitro that demonstrate the capacity to differentiate into trophoblast cell subtypes including extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). Here, we investigate candidate genes from pooled CRISPR screens to dissect the mechanisms of TSC to EVT differentiation. We anticipate that this work will guide approaches to treat a range of pregnancy disorders.