Molecular Regulation of Trophoblast Invasion in Placental Function and Pregnancy Disorders
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Reproductive Cells and Development".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2026 | Viewed by 23
Special Issue Editors
Interests: immunology; neuroimmunology; reproductive immunology; inflammation; autoimmunity; senescence; aging; T cells; trophoblast; extracellular vesicles
Interests: endometrial angiogenesis and bleeding; implantation; pregnancy; contraception; placental function; vascular complications during pregnancy; preeclampsia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The precise development and control of invasive trophoblast cells stand as a cornerstone of successful human pregnancy. These specialized cells, originating from the blastocyst's trophectoderm, are responsible for anchoring the embryo, remodeling maternal spiral arteries, and establishing the vital interface between mother and fetus. The molecular orchestration of their invasion—a process that must be deep enough to secure the pregnancy yet precisely constrained to avoid pathology—remains one of the most critical and enigmatic areas of reproductive biology.
Dysregulation of this process underlies severe pregnancy disorders, with insufficient invasion linked to preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, while excessive invasion is a hallmark of placenta accreta spectrum disorders. For decades, research has been hampered by limited access to early human placental tissue and a lack of physiologically relevant models. Today, the field is undergoing a transformative shift. Groundbreaking advances, such as the development of apical-out human trophoblast stem cell (hTSC) organoids that accurately mirror placental villous architecture, now offer unprecedented platforms to study trophoblast differentiation and invasion in vitro.
This Special Issue, "Invasive Trophoblast Development and Regulation of Function," aims to capture this momentum. We seek to bring together cutting-edge research that illuminates the intrinsic and maternal regulators of trophoblast fate, from intracellular signaling cascades (e.g., STAT3, Wnt/β-catenin) and extracellular matrix interactions to emerging paradigms in mechanobiology and immune modulation. We welcome submissions that leverage novel stem cell models, omics technologies, and translational approaches to decode the principles of normal placentation and to forge new diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for pregnancy complications.
Dr. Mirjana Nacka-Aleksić
Prof. Dr. Nihar R. Nayak
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- trophoblast invasion
- preeclampsia
- placenta accreta
- human trophoblast stem cells
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