Advances in the Study of the Biological Functions of Syncytia in Physiopathologic Processes

FAN Siqi¹, KUANG Yan¹, LI Yafei¹, ZHANG Hao¹, WANG Haojie¹, LIU Shaomeng¹, LIU Qingyun¹*, WANG Xiangru^1,2*

(¹the Cooperative lmnovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; ²State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China)

Abstract:

A syncytium is a multinucleated cell resulting from the fusion of the cell membranes of multiple neighboring cells. The formation of syncytia is closely related to the processes of fertilization, placenta formation, muscle maturation, and bone remodeling in living organisms. In recent years, more and more studies have found that syncytiotrophoblasts play an important role in the development of cancer and infections caused by viruses, and parasites. The studies related to the participation of syncytia in physiological and pathological processes were reviewed and elaborated here, and the biological functions of syncytia were also analyzed, which would deepen the comprehension and cognition of the role of syncytia in the pathology of diseases and provide new ideas for the prevention and control of diseases.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2024.05.0017