Joanna L. James
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View article: Extracellular vesicle-derived DNA methylation cargos: linking disease mechanisms, biomarkers, and therapeutic potential – a mini review
Extracellular vesicle-derived DNA methylation cargos: linking disease mechanisms, biomarkers, and therapeutic potential – a mini review Open
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-bilayered nanoparticles that are released by all cells and carry cargos reflective of their cell of origin, including nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. This narrative review provides a brief overvi…
View article: Third-trimester trophoblast stem cell function is impaired in fetal growth restriction
Third-trimester trophoblast stem cell function is impaired in fetal growth restriction Open
Trophoblasts are epithelial cells critical for placental development and function, ensuring healthy fetal growth. We have previously isolated trophoblast stem cells (TSC) from first trimester placentae using the side-population technique, …
View article: Electron tomography reveals mitochondrial network and cristae remodelling during cell differentiation in the human placenta
Electron tomography reveals mitochondrial network and cristae remodelling during cell differentiation in the human placenta Open
Summary Mitochondria adapt their structure through fusion and fission, yet how their morphology and cristae architecture alter as cells differentiate remains unclear. The human placenta is an ideal model for studying mitochondrial diversit…
View article: Maternal platelet-derived factors induce trophoblastic LAIR2 expression to promote trophoblast invasion and inhibit platelet activation at the fetal-maternal interface
Maternal platelet-derived factors induce trophoblastic LAIR2 expression to promote trophoblast invasion and inhibit platelet activation at the fetal-maternal interface Open
This study suggests that maternal platelet-derived factors affect the transcriptional profile of trophoblasts, including upregulation of LAIR2, which may be involved in fine-tuning the coagulation of maternal blood leaking from eroded deci…
View article: Organoid generation from trophoblast stem cells highlights distinct roles for cytotrophoblasts and stem cells in organoid formation and expansion
Organoid generation from trophoblast stem cells highlights distinct roles for cytotrophoblasts and stem cells in organoid formation and expansion Open
Together, this work highlights the requirement of TSC for organoid formation, and the functional distinction between TSC and cytotrophoblasts. Proof-of-principle data demonstrating organoid generation from late gestation TSC isolated direc…
View article: Niche Distribution Pattern of Rüppell's Vulture (<i>Gyps rueppellii</i>) and Conservation Implication in Kenya
Niche Distribution Pattern of Rüppell's Vulture (<i>Gyps rueppellii</i>) and Conservation Implication in Kenya Open
Rüppell's vultures are critically endangered, primarily due to anthropogenic activities such as habitat degradation, climate change, and intentional and unintentional poisoning, which have led to the loss of nesting and breeding sites. To …
View article: Feto-placental vascular structure and in silico haemodynamics: Of mice, rats, and human
Feto-placental vascular structure and in silico haemodynamics: Of mice, rats, and human Open
Pre-clinical placental research utilising rat and mouse placentae to understand the impact of feto-placental arborization on placental function and fetal development can inform the human context.
View article: Preeclampsia - A patient's perspective
Preeclampsia - A patient's perspective Open
The opening session of the 2023 International Federation of Placenta Associations meeting included a powerful patient perspective from invited guest Dawn Mark about her experience with preeclampsia and stillbirth. As part of this issue of …
View article: Health information delivery to patients at risk of having a small for gestational age/growth restricted baby in Aotearoa New Zealand: what can we learn from lived experience?
Health information delivery to patients at risk of having a small for gestational age/growth restricted baby in Aotearoa New Zealand: what can we learn from lived experience? Open
Introduction: The importance of access to reliable information during pregnancy is heightened in pregnancy complications. Impaired fetal growth (including small for gestational age (SGA) and growth restricted (FGR) fetuses) affects up to 1…
View article: Human placental vascular and perivascular cell heterogeneity differs between first trimester and term, and in pregnancies affected by foetal growth restriction
Human placental vascular and perivascular cell heterogeneity differs between first trimester and term, and in pregnancies affected by foetal growth restriction Open
Growth-restricted placentae have a reduced vascular network, impairing exchange of nutrients and oxygen. However, little is known about the differentiation events and cell types that underpin normal/abnormal placental vascular formation an…
View article: Synergistic regulation of uterine radial artery adaptation to pregnancy by paracrine and hemodynamic factors
Synergistic regulation of uterine radial artery adaptation to pregnancy by paracrine and hemodynamic factors Open
Placenta-specific paracrine factors β-estradiol, progesterone, and placental growth factor attenuate flow-mediated constriction of the rate-limiting uterine radial arteries, enabling higher flow rates in pregnancy. These paracrine factors …
View article: The transposable element-derived transcript of LIN28B has a placental origin and is not specific to tumours
The transposable element-derived transcript of LIN28B has a placental origin and is not specific to tumours Open
Transposable elements (TEs) are genetic elements that have evolved as crucial regulators of human development and cancer, functioning as both genes and regulatory elements. When TEs become dysregulated in cancer cells, they can serve as al…
View article: Applying Scientific Rationale to the Current Perceptions and Explanations of Massage and Miscarriage in the First Trimester
Applying Scientific Rationale to the Current Perceptions and Explanations of Massage and Miscarriage in the First Trimester Open
Miscarriage is a relatively common occurrence, impacting 8–15% of clinically recognised pregnancies, and up to 30% of all conceptions. The public perception of the risk factors associated with miscarriage does not match the evidence. Evide…
View article: Multi-scale Modelling of Shear Stress on the Syncytiotrophoblast: Could Maternal Blood Flow Impact Placental Function Across Gestation?
Multi-scale Modelling of Shear Stress on the Syncytiotrophoblast: Could Maternal Blood Flow Impact Placental Function Across Gestation? Open
The placenta is a critical fetal exchange organ, with a complex branching tree-like structure. Its surface is covered by a single multinucleated cell, the syncytiotrophoblast, which bathes in maternal blood for most of pregnancy. Mechanose…
View article: Author response: Full spectrum flow cytometry reveals mesenchymal heterogeneity in first trimester placentae and phenotypic convergence in culture, providing insight into the origins of placental mesenchymal stromal cells
Author response: Full spectrum flow cytometry reveals mesenchymal heterogeneity in first trimester placentae and phenotypic convergence in culture, providing insight into the origins of placental mesenchymal stromal cells Open
Article Figures and data Abstract Editor's evaluation Introduction Results Discussion Materials and methods Data availability References Decision letter Author response Article and author information Metrics Abstract Single-cell technologi…
View article: Modelling human placental villous development: designing cultures that reflect anatomy
Modelling human placental villous development: designing cultures that reflect anatomy Open
The use of in vitro tools to study trophoblast differentiation and function is essential to improve understanding of normal and abnormal placental development. The relative accessibility of human placentae enables the use of primary tropho…
View article: Multi-scale modelling of shear stress on the syncytiotrophoblast: Could maternal blood flow impact placental function across gestation?
Multi-scale modelling of shear stress on the syncytiotrophoblast: Could maternal blood flow impact placental function across gestation? Open
The surface of the placenta is lined by a single multinucleated cell, the syncytiotrophoblast, which forms a functional barrier between maternal and fetal blood in pregnancy. The placenta plays a critical role in healthy fetal development …
View article: Developments in functional imaging of the placenta
Developments in functional imaging of the placenta Open
The placenta is both the literal and metaphorical black box of pregnancy. Measurement of the function of the placenta has the potential to enhance our understanding of this enigmatic organ and serve to support obstetric decision making. Ad…
View article: ‘Fetal side’ of the placenta: anatomical mis-annotation of carbon particle ‘transfer’ across the human placenta
‘Fetal side’ of the placenta: anatomical mis-annotation of carbon particle ‘transfer’ across the human placenta Open
Matters Arising article, arising from H. Bové et al. Nature Communications https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11654-3 (2019).
View article: The Chondrogenic Potential of First-Trimester and Term Placental Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells
The Chondrogenic Potential of First-Trimester and Term Placental Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Open
Objectives Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are a well-established cell source for cartilage engineering, but challenges remain as differentiation often results in chondrocyte hypertrophy. Chondrogenic potential also varies with MSC s…
View article: Differences in human placental mesenchymal stromal cells may impair vascular function in FGR
Differences in human placental mesenchymal stromal cells may impair vascular function in FGR Open
Placentae from pregnancies with foetal growth restriction (FGR) exhibit poor oxygen and nutrient exchange, in part due to impaired placental vascular development. Placental mesenchymal stromal cells (pMSCs) reside in a perivascular niche, …
View article: Something old, something new: digital quantification of uterine vascular remodelling and trophoblast plugging in historical collections provides new insight into adaptation of the utero-placental circulation
Something old, something new: digital quantification of uterine vascular remodelling and trophoblast plugging in historical collections provides new insight into adaptation of the utero-placental circulation Open
STUDY QUESTION What is the physiological extent of vascular remodelling in and trophoblast plugging of the uterine circulation across the first half of pregnancy? SUMMARY ANSWER All levels of the uterine vascular tree (arcuate, radial and …
View article: Ex Vivo Human Adipose Tissue Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (ASC) Are a Heterogeneous Population That Demonstrate Rapid Culture-Induced Changes
Ex Vivo Human Adipose Tissue Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (ASC) Are a Heterogeneous Population That Demonstrate Rapid Culture-Induced Changes Open
Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASC) are showing clinical promise for the treatment of a range of inflammatory and degenerative conditions. These lipoaspirate-derived cells are part of the abundant and accessible source of…
View article: Establishment of maternal blood supply to the placenta: insights into plugging, unplugging and trophoblast behaviour from an agent-based model
Establishment of maternal blood supply to the placenta: insights into plugging, unplugging and trophoblast behaviour from an agent-based model Open
The ability of the baby to receive nutrients and oxygen in utero depends on the healthy development of the placenta. For maternal blood to adequately perfuse the placenta, it dramatically alters the arteries in the uterus that supply it wi…
View article: Differences in placental capillary shear stress in fetal growth restriction may affect endothelial cell function and vascular network formation
Differences in placental capillary shear stress in fetal growth restriction may affect endothelial cell function and vascular network formation Open
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 5–10% of pregnancies, leading to clinically significant fetal morbidity and mortality. FGR placentae frequently exhibit poor vascular branching, but the mechanisms driving this are poorly understood. …
View article: Human placenta and trophoblast development: key molecular mechanisms and model systems
Human placenta and trophoblast development: key molecular mechanisms and model systems Open
Abnormal placentation is considered as an underlying cause of various pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, the latter increasing the risk for the development of severe disorders in …
View article: Supplementary material from "Establishment of maternal blood supply to the placenta: insights into plugging, unplugging and trophoblast behaviour from an agent-based model"
Supplementary material from "Establishment of maternal blood supply to the placenta: insights into plugging, unplugging and trophoblast behaviour from an agent-based model" Open
The ability of the baby to receive nutrients and oxygen in utero depends on the healthy development of the placenta. For maternal blood to adequately perfuse the placenta, it dramatically alters the arteries in the uterus that supply it wi…
View article: The role of DNA methylation in human trophoblast differentiation
The role of DNA methylation in human trophoblast differentiation Open
The placenta is a vital fetal exchange organ connecting mother and baby. Specialised placental epithelial cells, called trophoblasts, are essential for adequate placental function. Trophoblasts transform the maternal vasculature to allow e…
View article: Trophoblast plugs: impact on utero-placental haemodynamics and spiral artery remodelling
Trophoblast plugs: impact on utero-placental haemodynamics and spiral artery remodelling Open
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