N-cadherin knockdown leads to disruption of trophoblastic and endothelial cell interaction in a 3D cell culture model - New insights in trophoblast invasion failure.

We identified N-cadherin to mediate specific interaction between HUVEC and the migrating trophoblast cells HTR-8/SVneo in a Matrigel® co-culture model. VE-cadherin contribution could not be confirmed in vitro. Our results support the hypothesis that impaired N-cadherin but not VE-cadherin expression is involved in trophoblast recruitment to the maternal endothelium.