Abstract
The human placenta is a fetomaternal organ involved in nutrition, waste elimination and gas exchange between the mother and her developing fetus. In the recent years, it has gained popularity as an organ of immense regenerative potential. Thus, cells and tissues isolated from placentae, are being used for a multitude of clinical applications. As such there are 3 main entities that can be harvested from a term placenta which is usually discarded following delivery. Most research published in this area focuses on two main cell types mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from various parts of the placenta and epithelial cells isolated from amniotic membrane and the amniotic membrane by itself for its numerous biological properties. The two cell types show phenotypic plasticity and lineage specific differentiation potential. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians an insight to the regenerative capacity of cells and tissues of placental origin and to summarize their current clinical applications.
Highlights
The human placenta is the first organ to develop during embryogenesis
The placenta represents a reservoir of progenitor, stem cells and epithelial cells that have been shown to differentiate into various cell types, including adipogenic, osteogenic, myogenic, hepatogenic, cardiac, pancreatic, endothelial, pulmonary and neurogenic lineages[2]
From the fetal surface inwards it consists of a single layer of cuboidal epithelium composed of human amniotic epithelial cells lying on a basement membrane (BM) and separated from the chorion by a loose avascular stromal matrix[5,6]
Summary
The human placenta is the first organ to develop during embryogenesis. Studies conducted in mouse models have shown a correlation between its morphogenesis and the influence of signaling between placental trophoblast and embryonic cells reflecting the key role it plays as the interface between fetal and maternal environments[1]. The two most important cell types in the placenta belong to either the trophoblastic lineage which provide the main structural and functional components required for the close contact between the maternal and fetal circulation and the decidual cells from maternal uterine tissue. The placenta represents a reservoir of progenitor, stem cells and epithelial cells that have been shown to differentiate into various cell types, including adipogenic, osteogenic, myogenic, hepatogenic, cardiac, pancreatic, endothelial, pulmonary and neurogenic lineages[2]. Four regions of fetal placenta can be distinguished: amniotic epithelial, amniotic mesenchymal, chorionic mesenchymal, and chorionic trophoblastic. From these regions, the following cell populations are isolated: human amniotic epithelial cells (hAEC), human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSC), human chorionic mesenchymal stromal cells (hCMSC), and human chorionic trophoblastic cells (hCTC)[3]
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