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Preeclampsia pp 155–163Cite as

Harvesting and Characterization of Syncytial Nuclear Aggregates Following Culture of First Trimester Human Placental Explants

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1710))

Abstract

There is currently no effective method to study multinucleated trophoblast debris extruded from the syncytiotrophoblast into the maternal circulation. In Chapter 9, an in vitro placental explant culture model to generate trophoblast debris was described. Here, we detail the method utilized to isolate individual large multinucleated syncytial nuclear aggregates (SNAs) that are extruded from the syncytiotrophoblast following the culture of first trimester human placental explants. Syncytial nuclear aggregates have been observed in the peripheral maternal circulation as early as 6 weeks’ gestation and may play a role in tolerating the maternal immune system during pregnancy. Conversely, aberrant cell death processes in the syncytiotrophoblast due to various maternal factors leading to the extrusion of SNAs that are altered in nature have been implicated in the development of preeclampsia. The methods described herein allow for the isolation and harvest of SNAs without other types of extruded trophoblast debris and can be used to investigate the effect of various maternal factors on the nature of SNAs extruded from the placenta in vitro.

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Acknowledgment

This study was funded by the Marsden Fund of the Royal Society of New Zealand. P.P. is a recipient of The University of Auckland Health Research Doctoral Scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Priyadarshini Pantham

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Lawrence W. Chamley

Authors
  1. Priyadarshini Pantham
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  2. Lawrence W. Chamley
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Correspondence to Priyadarshini Pantham .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Padma Murthi

  2. INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, Québec, Canada

    Cathy Vaillancourt

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Pantham, P., Chamley, L.W. (2018). Harvesting and Characterization of Syncytial Nuclear Aggregates Following Culture of First Trimester Human Placental Explants. In: Murthi, P., Vaillancourt, C. (eds) Preeclampsia . Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1710. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7498-6_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7498-6_12

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7497-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7498-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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