Isolation and culturing of trophoblasts from human terminal placenta.

Trophoblast culture was derived from the islets of cell migrating from the fragments of placental microvilli. The isolated cells retained their cytotrophoblast phenotype longer (until passage 2-3) and then gained characteristics of proliferating mesenchymal cells. We conclude that changes in the morphology and co-expression of epithelial (cytokeratin 7) and mesenchymal (vimentin) markers attest to epithelial mesenchymal transition.