In the human placenta, cell fusion is crucial for forming the syncytiotrophoblast, a multinucleated giant cell essential for maintaining pregnancy and ensuring fetal health. The formation of the syncytiotrophoblast is catalyzed by the evolutionarily modern fusogens syncytin-1 and syncytin-2. In this issue of Genes & Development, Esbin and colleagues (doi:10.1101/gad.351633.124) reveal a critical role for the transcription factor TFEB in the regulation of syncytin expression and the promotion of trophoblast fusion. Notably, TFEB's pro-fusion role operates independently of its well-known functions in lysosome biogenesis and autophagy, suggesting that TFEB has acquired additional functions to promote cell fusion in the human placenta.

中文翻译：

---

老狗新花样：TFEB 促进人胎盘中合胞素表达和细胞融合


在人类胎盘中，细胞融合对于形成合体滋养层至关重要，合体滋养层细胞是一种多核巨细胞，对于维持妊娠和确保胎儿健康至关重要。合体滋养层的形成是由进化上的现代融合菌合胞素-1 和合胞素-2 催化的。在本期的基因与发展中，Esbin及其同事（doi：10.1101/gad.351633.124）揭示了转录因子TFEB在调节合胞素表达和促进滋养层融合中的关键作用。值得注意的是，TFEB 的促融合作用独立于其在溶酶体生物发生和自噬中的已知功能发挥作用，这表明 TFEB 已经获得了促进人胎盘细胞融合的额外功能。