저산소 환경에서의 임신 초기 태반 리모델링 모사를 위한 미세생리학적 모델 개발

초록

Placental remodeling is critical for a successful pregnancy, involving the invasion of trophoblast cells into maternal tissues to remodel uterine spiral arteries. Disruptions in this process, often exacerbated by hypoxic conditions, are linked to severe complications such as pre-eclampsia. This study utilizes a novel microfluidic "placenta-on-a-chip" platform to simulate early pregnancy environments under hypoxia. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and trophoblast cells (HTR-8/SVneo) were co-cultured to model maternal-fetal interfaces. Real-time imaging and biochemical analyses revealed that hypoxia significantly increased trophoblast invasion, driven by enhanced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. These findings demonstrate hypoxia’s pivotal role in modulating placental vascular remodeling, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying pregnancy-related disorders.