Studies of mesenchymal cells from 1st trimester human placenta: expression of cytokeratin outside the trophoblast lineage.

A fibroblast cell strain that expressed cytokeratins 8 and 18 was isolated from explanted first trimester placenta. Its properties were consistent with an origin in the villous fibroblast-myofibroblast lineage, including expression of vimentin, smooth muscle alpha-actin and fibroblast surface protein. The cells grew rapidly in vitro, and exhibited tightly aligned bipolar morphology at confluence, absence of multi-nucleated cells, lack of secreted chorionic gonadotrophin, and absence of HLA G, placental alkaline phosphatase and pregnancy-specific beta-1 glycoprotein (SP1). On these criteria it was concluded they were not trophoblasts. On the basis of their morphology, cytokeratin expression and absence of CD34 and endoglin it was concluded they were not endothelial cells. They lacked desmin and smooth muscle myosin and so were not vascular smooth muscle cells. Further mesenchymal cell isolates were studied to determine the generality of these findings. Phenotypic heterogeneity was a consistent characteristic, but cytokeratin-positive cells were always present both in first trimester and term strains. Desmin was absent from almost all the cells isolated using the protocols employed, despite its occurrence in a significant subpopulation of cells in the villous stroma. Cytokeratins 8 and 18 can be observed in the stromal compartment of both first trimester and term placental villi. Cytokeratin has hitherto been regarded as a highly reliable marker for cells of the trophoblast lineage in vitro. These observations suggest that care should be taken in characterization of placental cell isolates; trophoblasts should be identified by the presence of cytokeratin 7 in preference to cytokeratin 8/18. The functional significance of cytokeratin expression in placental mesenchymal cells remains to be established. Copyright 1999 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.