OBJECTIVE
Exosomes are extracellular vesicles critical for intercellular communication, particularly in maternal–fetal signaling. This study aimed to isolate and characterize exosomes from human placenta organoids (HPOs) and compare their molecular profiles to those of exosomes from first-trimester placental explants.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
First-trimester placenta tissues (6–9 weeks; n = 9) were collected with informed consent (Ethics No:2025.107.IRB2.052). Villous explants were cultured at 24/48h in DMEM/F12+10% exosome-free FBS+1% penicillin-streptomycin, while HPOs were formed via cytotrophoblast cells embedded in Matrigel and maintained in trophoblast organoid medium (TOM). Explants were immunostained for CK7, Ki67, β-hCG, and vimentin; HPOs were evaluated via immunofluorescence (CK7, TP63, β-hCG, Ki67, E-cadherin), and β-hCG secretion was measured by ELISA. Conditioned media from explants and HPOs (day 3/8) were collected for exosome isolation by ultracentrifugation (100,000 × g, 2h, 4°C). Exosomes were analyzed by NTA, TEM, Western blot [CD63 (general), PLAP (placenta-specific), β-actin (negative) exosome markers], and RT-qPCR (miR-517a-3p, miR-519d-3p). PLAP expression in exosomes from term explants served as a positive control. Molecular fingerprints were assessed by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction for SERS data (p< 0.001) and Kruskal-Wallis test for non-parametric NTA results (p< 0.05).
RESULTS
Exosomes from both groups displayed characteristic morphology, marker expression, and size range (30–150 nm). Explant-derived exosomes had significantly higher particle concentrations (9.33 × 10¹⁰±8.71 × 10⁹ at 24h; 9.04 × 10¹⁰±6.72 × 10⁹ at 48h) than HPO-derived exosomes (3.19 × 10¹⁰±1.60 × 10⁹ at day 3; 3.71 × 10¹⁰±2.64 × 10⁹ at day 8) (p< 0.05). CD63 was detected in exosomes for both groups; PLAP and β-actin were absent. TEM confirmed typical exosome morphology. Placenta-specific miRNAs were expressed in both groups. SERS revealed significant spectral differences (p< 0.001) at 1080, 1445, and 1508 cm⁻¹, indicating differences in lipid and protein composition.
CONCLUSIONS
HPO-derived exosomes share key features with exosomes from matched first-trimester placenta explants, supporting the utility of HPOs as a relevant in vitro model to study placental extracellular vesicles.
IMPACT STATEMENT
This study introduces HPOs as a scalable source for placenta exosome research, enabling investigation of maternal–fetal signaling and pregnancy-related disorders.
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