The first early human placental cell map was published, which could provide a reference for the study of pregnancy complications.

For pregnant women, there is nothing more important than knowing the condition of pregnancy as early as possible.
The truth is that most studies so far have focused on late pregnancy, where complications such as preeclampsia and preterm birth, which usually occur in the middle or late stages of pregnancy, tend to be ineffective. In a new study
, scientists have detailed for the first time fetal and maternal cells in early pregnancy.
they believe that this result could provide a reference for further research into various pregnancy complications.
placenta and endometrial metamorphosis tissue are important organs for the exchange of matter between the fetus and mother, as well as tissues that are essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy.
to look at the cellular characteristics of fetuses and mothers and gain insight into what can happen in the early stages of pregnancy, just as scientists have worked in the past to map healthy human cells, and researchers have tried to map early human placental cells by analyzing the cells of placenta and metamorphosis or endometrial tissue. In a study published in the journal Science Advances,
, lead author Hemant Suryawanshi told us that by analyzing nine samples from the placenta and 11 of the membranes, they established the first cell map of the early human placenta, which will be a useful tool for future researchers.
in addition to identifying different cell types, the scientists also used a new method to determine the genes expressed by each cell.
Suryawanshi explains that previous studies of tissue in the early stages of pregnancy relied on a large number of cell (bulk) RNA sequencing methods, which produce an average RNA map from multiple cells, rather than from a single cell, and that these cells come from mid- and late-pregnancy tissues of no more than 20 types.
, Surywanshi and his colleagues used microfluidic-based single-cell RNA sequencing in the study to analyze more than 14,000 placental cells and nearly 7,000 metamorphosis cells (all of which come from early pregnancy tissues) and successfully mastered an overview of the tens of thousands of genes expressed in each of the 20 cell types.
, what questions might this study help answer? First, scientists interested in endothelial epithelial cells in the early stages of pregnancy could use it to observe the genes expressed by these cells and the "expression intensity" of each gene, Suryawanshi said.
second, the placenta is a very important but little-known organ that is vital to life and plays a role in the lungs, kidneys, liver and immune system sons.
however, its structure and function remain a mystery.
why the immune system does not reject the fetus is not known.
in the study, the authors also gave answers.
in addition, the cellular composition and molecular levels of pregnancy have changed dramatically, and this study provides the first high-resolution images of these changes.
researchers mapped more than 20 different cell types, including matrix cells and endothelial cells (red).
finally, given that the study maps the types of tissues and cells in the early stages of pregnancy, it could also be a template to help identify cell and genetic level abnormalities in problematic pregnancies.
", by learning more about the diversity and special functions of the cells that make up the early placenta and metamorphosis membranes, we can begin to identify the root causes of many pregnancy diseases and ultimately find ways to improve pregnancy outcomes.
", said co-author Zev Williams.
Source: Biological Exploration.