Figure 4 | Scientific Reports

Figure 4

From: Functional HLA-C expressing trophoblast spheroids as a model to study placental–maternal immune interactions during human implantation

Figure 4

Sw71 spheroids’ propensity for invasion. (a–c) Representative triplets of invading Sw71 spheroids. Optimal results were gained in Opti-MEM followed by lsDMEM/F12 and hsDMEM/F12 (86%, 83% and 75% respectively). (d) Representative spheroid on D10 in hsDMEM/F12, showing a classical “path-generating” radial invasion pattern, seen in 97% of the cases. (e) Representative spheroid on D6 in hsDMEM/F12, showing a non-typical “path-finding” amoeboid invasion (zone marked in red: cells with rounded, deformable morphology squeeze through narrow spaces and smaller pores of the Matrigel). Of note, invading Sw71 spheroid trophoblasts form invadosomes (orange arrows) for the proteolysis-dependent ECM degradation which are numerous and well-developed in radial invasion (d) and only a few in the amoeboid invasion (e). Imaging: Echo Revolve microscope, Echo, San Diego, CA, USA, magnification 4× ± digital zoom. Seven independent experiments were performed.

Back to article page