Impaired Syncytin induced cell fusion and increased apoptosis are associated with placental dysfunction

In early pregnancy cytotrophoblasts (CT) fuse and form multinuclear syncytiotrophoblasts (SCT). The envelope gene of the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-W, Syncytin is expressed in SCT and mediates CT fusion. Apoptosis is crucial to development and homeostasis of the placenta, but the mechanism of apoptosis in CT is unknown. The aims in this investigation were to define clinical parameters associated with PE, HELLP and IUGR and study the process of cell fusion and apoptosis in placental tissue and in cultured CT compared to controls. Placental tissue showed a reduction in Syncytin expression in PE/IUGR (5.4-f…