Side-Population Trophoblasts Exhibit the Differentiation Potential of a Trophoblast Stem Cell Population, Persist to Term, and are Reduced in Fetal Growth Restriction.

Our novel method of isolating a population of human trophoblast stem cell-like cells directly from human placental tissue throughout gestation provides the first insights into trophoblast dysfunction in pregnancy pathologies. The depletion of side-population trophoblasts in growth restricted placentae may contribute to poor placental function.