Existence of human trophoblast stem (hTS) cells has been suspected but
unproved. The isolation of hTS cells is reported in the early stage of
chorionic villi by expressions of FGF4, fgfr-2, Oct4, Thy-1, and
stage-specific embryonic antigens distributed in different compartments
of the cell. hTS cells are able to derive into specific cell phenotypes
of the three primitive embryonic layers, produce chimeric reactions in
mice, and retain a normal karyotype and telomere length. In hTS cells,
Oct4 and fgfr-2 expressions can be knockdown by bFGF. These facts suggest
that differentiation of the hTS cells play an important role in
implantation and placentation. hTS cells could be apply to human cell
differentiation and for gene and cell-based therapies.