Sex-specific gene expression differences are evident in human embryonic stem cells and during in vitro differentiation of human placental progenitor cells

Here, we examine sex-specific gene expression differences during in vitro differentiation of male and female human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into trophoblastic progenitors, as our current understanding of the early events of human trophoblast formation is limited. We perform RNA-Sequencing in 3 female and 3 male hESC lines at days 0 and 5 of BMP4/A/P trophoblastic progenitor cell differentiation. Differential gene expression was performed with DESeq2, and reveals significant sex differences with transcriptomic profiles in hESCs and trophoblastic progenitors, and also with the differentiation process itself.