Naïve human embryonic stem cells can give rise to cells with trophoblast-like transcriptome and methylome [RNA-Seq]

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) readily differentiate to somatic or germ lineages but have impaired ability to form extra-embryonic lineages such as placenta or yolk sac. Here we demonstrate that hESCs cultured in naïve media conditions can be converted into cells that exhibit the cellular and molecular phenotypes of human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs) derived from human placenta or blastocyst. The resulting “transdifferentiated” hTSCs show reactivation of core placental genes, acquisition of a placenta-like methylome, and the ability to differentiate to extravillous trophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts. Modest differences are observed between transdifferentiated and placental hTSCs, most notably in the expression of certain imprinted loci. These results indicate that naïve hESCs can differentiate to extra-embryonic lineage, and demonstrate a new way of modeling human trophoblast specification and placental methylome establishment.