Genome-wide analysis of the effects of oxygen tension on trophoblast differentiation

Analysis of gene expression in extravillous trophoblasts and column cells isolated from matrigel embedded 1st trimester placental explants cultured in 1%, 5% or 20% oxygen. The aim of this study is to identify differentially expressed genes and pathways potentially altered by varying oxygen conditions within anchoring column trophoblasts and invasive extravillous trophoblasts. Total RNA was isolated from extravillous trophoblasts and column cells propagated from Matrigel-embedded placental explants. All explants were derived from placental villous tissues from 5-8 week gestation placentas. Prior to RNA isolation, placental explants were cultured in either 1%, 5% or 20% oxygen for 48 hours, after which RNA was extracted from trophoblast cells imbedded within Matrigel using Trizol LS reagent. Following RNA extraction, RNA was convereted to cDNA libraries and hybridized onto Affymetrix Clariom S Assay reagents and arrays.