Expression of Dysadherin and E-Cadherin in Trophoblastic Tissue in Normal and Abnormal Pregnancies

Adhesion Molecules in Human Trophoblast – A Review. II. Extravillous Trophoblast

“…Although little work has been done to elucidate its role, Cad-11 may be important in promoting adhesion of trophoblast to maternal stromal cells, where it is upregulated during decidualization [60]. Similarly, expression of dysadherin, a cell 215 surface glycoprotein thought to reduce cell-cell adhesion and increase motility, is increased in CTB developing into columns [61,62]. Dysadherin is believed to promote cell migration via effects on the actin cytoskeleton and downregulation of E-cadherin expression [57,58].…”

“…In early gestation, ephrin-B1 is expressed by interstitial and endovascular EVT, and ephrin-B2 expression is observed in both villous CTB and EVT [61,62]. Studies of EVT differentiation have revealed that acquisition of an invasive phenotype is associated with a rapid decrease in EPHB4 expression and enhanced expression of ephrin-B1 and -B2.…”

A Cdh1HA knock‐in allele rescues the Cdh1−/− phenotype but shows essential Cdh1 function during placentation

“…In these disorders as well as in gestational trophoblastic diseases, like hyadatiform mole, Cdh1 expression is frequently altered in comparison to normal pregnancies. Both an increase in Cdh1 expression and an aberrant down-regulation have been documented in different studies (Zhou et al, 1997;Floridon et al, 2000;Xue et al, 2003;Brown et al, 2005;Batistatou et al, 2007;Blechschmidt et al, 2007). However, the role of cadherin-mediated adhesion for placenta formation and tissue homeostasis and in the described disorders remains elusive.…”

“…The lack of Cdh3 does not cause placental defects or reduced litter sizes (Radice et al, 1997). Although the expression of Cdh1 has been found in extraembryonic tissues and specific layers of the developing placenta as well, the function of Cdh1 for placenta morphogenesis has not been addressed (Nose and Takeichi, 1986;Brown et al, 2005;Batistatou et al, 2007). In humans, a trophoblast giant cell layer is found in the placental bed, and an invasive extravillous cytotrophoblast layer mediates attachment to the uterine wall (Rossant and Cross, 2001).…”

“…Subsequently, the protein is lost during syncytiotrophoblast differentiation (Shih Ie et al, 2002). Altered Cdh1 expression is likely the cause for certain complications during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia or some spontaneous abortions, and can be detected in gestational trophoblastic syndromes (Zhou et al, 1997;Floridon et al, 2000;Xue et al, 2003;Batistatou et al, 2007). In pre-eclampsia, an incomplete invasion of the extravillus trophoblast into the uterine endometrium was identified, which correlates with aberrant Cdh1 expression (Zhou et al, 1997;Brown et al, 2005).…”