Abstract
Human placenta is a complex and heterogeneous organ interfacing between the mother and the fetus that supports fetal development. Alterations to placental structural components are associated with various pregnancy complications. To reveal the heterogeneity among various placenta cell types in normal and diseased placentas, as well as elucidate molecular interactions within a population of placental cells, a new genomics technology called single cell RNA-seq (or scRNA-seq) has been employed in the last couple of years. Here we review the principles of scRNA-seq technology, and summarize the recent human placenta studies at scRNA-seq level across gestational ages as well as in pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth and preeclampsia. We list the computational analysis platforms and resources available for the public use. Lastly, we discuss the future areas of interest for placenta single cell studies, as well as the data analytics needed to accomplish them.
Highlights
The placenta is the interface between the mother and the fetus, which mediates the exchange of gas, nutrients, waste, and produces hormones and growth factors that support fetal development and ensure a healthy pregnancy
The human Placenta scRNA-seq studies reviewed here reveal that vast transcriptional differences exist among different loci of placentas, between various cell types, gestational ages as well as in pregnancy diseases
One needs to be cautious before attempting scRNA-seq studies using human placenta
Summary
The placenta is the interface between the mother and the fetus, which mediates the exchange of gas, nutrients, waste, and produces hormones and growth factors that support fetal development and ensure a healthy pregnancy. ScRNA-seq profiling revealed that these cells expressed genes involved in the production of gestational hormones, which support the fetal and placental development (Tsang et al 2017, Suryawanshi et al 2018).
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