@article{mbs:/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.81412-0, author = "Muir, A. and Lever, A. M. L. and Moffett, A.", title = "Human endogenous retrovirus-W envelope (syncytin) is expressed in both villous and extravillous trophoblast populations", journal= "Journal of General Virology", year = "2006", volume = "87", number = "7", pages = "2067-2071", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.81412-0", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.81412-0", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2099", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "The placenta is unique amongst normal tissues in transcribing numerous different human endogenous retroviruses at high levels. In this study, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate the expression of syncytin in human trophoblast. Syncytin transcripts were found in first-trimester trophoblast cells with both villous and extravillous phenotypes and also in the JAR and JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell lines. Syncytin protein was detected in villous trophoblast and in all extravillous trophoblast subpopulations of first- and second-trimester placental tissues. It was also present in ectopic trophoblast from tubal implantations. This study confirms that syncytin is expressed widely by a variety of normal human trophoblast populations, as well as choriocarcinoma cell lines.", }