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Recording available 2/16-5/2
Recording available 2/16-5/2
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Abstract Award
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Poster Session 3

Category: Medical/Surgical/Diseases/Complications

Poster Session 3

(985) Effects of Extracellular Matrix Components on First-Trimester Trophoblast Stem Cell Growth and Syncytialization

Thursday, February 12, 2026
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM  

    Submitting Author and Presenting Author(s)

  • Uma B. Gaffney, BA (she/her/hers)

    Medical Student
    University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

    • Coauthor(s)

  • Yalda Afshar, MD, PhD (she/her/hers)

    David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
    Los Angeles, California, United States

  • Christina J. Megli, MD, PhD

    Maternal Fetal Medicine Attending Physician
    University of Pittsburgh Magee Women's Hospital
    University of Pittsburgh Magee Women's Hospital, Pennsylvania, United States

Objective:
Previous studies have demonstrated that components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) can influence cell growth and function. Yet, the effect of ECM on trophoblast cells is poorly described. This is relevant for understanding trophoblast migration and invasion with development of placenta accreta, where trophoblasts come directly into contact with an ECM laden scar. We hypothesize that first-trimester trophoblast stem cells respond to ECM altering growth, syncytialization and protein expression.

Study Design:

The CT-27 placental trophoblast stem cell line was cultured on collagen I, collagen IV, iMatrix, Matrigel, and gels of collagen I and Matrigel. Syncytialization was performed (as described in Okae et al 2017). Microscopy was used to monitor cell adhesion and morphology.  Supernatant media was collected and analyzed using ELISA for levels of B-hCG. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed to look for differences in transcripts. CT-27 cells were cultured on an Advanced Biomatrix ECM Select™ Array Kit Ultra-36 and imaged to characterize cell adhesion.

Results:
CT-27 cells adhered to and grew on collagens I and IV, iMatrix, and Matrigel. Growth kinetics increased with adhesion to collagen IV, iMatrix, and collagen I. On the gel of collagen I, compared to Matrigel, growth was delayed, and cells never invaded into the gel. Syncytialization occurred only on iMatrix and collagen IV. CT-27 produced b-HCG on collagens I and IV, iMatrix, or Matrigel, which was enhanced when cells syncytialized. RNA sequencing showed distinct differences in trophoblast transcriptional profiles in response to different collagens. CT-27 cells adhered to all ECM combinations except for tropoelastin and tropoelastin with collagen VI. However, after 48 hours of growth, cell morphologies were distinct on each surface.

Conclusion:

ECM exposure alters both the rate and patterns of cell growth, cellular morphology and syncytialization. These data suggest that future studies on the interaction of ECM and trophoblast may highlight molecular mechanisms of trophoblast regulation important for placenta accreta and in vitro models of the placenta.