Researchers Develop Simple Method for Isolating Trophoblast Cells from Cervical Swabs
Advancements in Prenatal Diagnostic Testing
Prenatal diagnostic testing plays a crucial role in identifying genetic abnormalities in fetuses before birth. Traditional methods, such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, are invasive procedures that retrieve fetal DNA from amniotic fluid and the placenta, respectively. While these tests are effective, they come with an increased risk of pregnancy loss. As a result, there is growing interest in exploring non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) strategies.
Limitations of Current Testing Methods
Blood tests currently available can detect a limited range of genetic disorders by analyzing fetal DNA present in the mother’s bloodstream. Although these tests are safe, they often fail to provide a definitive diagnosis, necessitating further invasive follow-up testing.
Exploring Trophoblasts for Non-Invasive Testing
A promising area for NIPT is the analysis of trophoblasts, the cells constituting the placenta. During early pregnancy, trophoblast cells can be found in the cervical canal and contain the complete fetal genome, making them ideal for genetic testing. Researchers at Brown University have recently developed an innovative method to isolate these trophoblast cells from cervical swabs collected from pregnant women.
Novel Isolation Technique
The technique, detailed in the journal *Scientific Reports*, leverages the unique physical characteristics of trophoblast cells. The research team discovered that trophoblast cells are smaller and rounder than other maternal cervical cells, featuring relatively large nuclei. They hypothesized that these traits would allow trophoblast cells to settle more rapidly at the bottom of a solution compared to cervical cells.
In their study, the researchers incubated a mixture of trophoblast and cervical cells in polystyrene wells of a microwell plate. They observed maximum separation between the two cell types after four minutes. This short incubation period resulted in a remarkable 700% increase in the density of trophoblast cells at the bottom of the well.
Implications for Diagnostic Laboratories
This cell settling technique enables the cost-effective and efficient isolation of trophoblasts, making it a viable option for basic diagnostic laboratories. Christina Bailey-Hytholt, the study’s lead author, emphasized the significance of this advancement: “There is a large need for biomedical engineering techniques toward advancing prenatal and women’s health. Our work is a step toward more non-invasive prenatal testing options.”
References
Bailey-Hytholt, C. M. et al. A Rapid Method for Label-Free Enrichment of Rare Trophoblast Cells from Cervical Samples. Sci Rep 9, 12115 (2019).
Stacey, K. New technique isolates placental cells for non-invasive genetic testing. EurekAlert! (2019).
Image by Raman Oza from Pixabay.