E-cadherin was one of the early expressed genes during embryo development. The intact form of E-cadherin can link to cytoskeleton via β catenin, and the complex plays essential roles in cell adhesion. Evidences indicated the essential functions of E-cadherin in processes of embryoic implantation and placentation. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were used to identify the localization of E-cadherin in human placenta. It was found that E-cadherin was expressed mainly in villous cytotrophoblasts and trophoblast column, with the immunoreactivity decreased obviously in distal trophoblast column. Temporally, the mRNA level of E-cadherin in placenta was the highest at gestaional week 6, and began to be down-regulated from week 8 on, reaching a nadir at week 9. However, the mRNA expression was up-regulated in placenta at week 26 and full-term. In human normal placenta origin cytotrophoblast cell line (NPC), the mRNA and protein expressions of E-cadherin was significantly stimulated by TGFβ1 in dose- and time-dependent manners. Meanwhile, the cell-cell adhesion of NPC cells was promoted by TGFβ1. All these data indicated that there exists paracrine regulation of E-cadherin in human placenta, and E-cadherin may be involved in regulating trophoblast cell behaviors, likely inhibiting cell invasion through facilitating cell-cell adhesion.