Implantation of the blastocyst into the maternal endometrium, mediated by well-differentiated primary cells of the placenta known as trophoblasts, grow in an invasive via complicated interaction with immune cells in the maternal myometrium. Placenta-derived stem cells (PDSCs), which is a fetal origin, display multi-lineages differentiation potential, and they are free of ethical concerns, easily accessible, abundant, and strongly immunosuppressive. However, the efficiency of PDSCs according to trophoblast invasion or immune modulation in implantation has not yet been evaluated. Here, we investigated the effects of PDSCs for trophoblast invasion as well as their potential for immune modulation of activated T cells when they co-cultured with PDSCs. Activated T cells and HTR-8SV/neo trophoblast cells were co-cultured with PDSCs according to cell dose-dependent manner. Activities for proliferation of T cells were analyzed by BrdU incorporation assay and cell invasions were estimated. Activation of T cells was significantly decreased in the group co-cultured with PDSCs comparing to normal fibroblast cells (p<0.05). In addition, trophoblast invasion by PDSCs have recorded a twofold increase than the normal fibroblast cells. These results contribute to our understanding of the potential roles of PDSCs, including immune modulation effects for trophoblast invasion in pregnancy, and provide a foundation for the development of new cell therapy-based strategies for the treatment of women with implantation.

• Gi Jin Kim(Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University)