Article
Environmental Sciences
Martina Piasek, Lana Skrgatic, Antonija Sulimanec, Tatjana Orct, Ankica Sekovanic, Jelena Kovacic, Anja Katic, Karmen Branovic Cakanic, Alica Pizent, Natasa Brajenovic, Andreja Juric, Irena Brcic Karaconji, Zorana Kljakovic-Gaspic, Blanka Tariba Lovakovic, Maja Lazarus, Sandra Stasenko, Iva Miskulin, Jasna Jurasovic
Summary: This study examines the interaction between toxic elements cadmium and lead, exposure from cigarette smoking, essential elements, and steroidogenesis in the maternal-placental-fetal unit. The results show that smoking during pregnancy is associated with increased levels of cadmium in maternal, placental, and fetal compartments, increased levels of lead in the placenta, and decreased levels of iron in the placenta. The study also provides new insights into the disruption of sex steroid hormones in umbilical cord serum.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oliver C. Watkins, Hannah E. J. Yong, Tania Ken Lin Mah, Victoria K. B. Cracknell-Hazra, Reshma Appukuttan Pillai, Preben Selvam, Neha Sharma, Amaury Cazenave-Gassiot, Anne K. Bendt, Keith M. Godfrey, Rohan M. Lewis, Markus R. Wenk, Shiao-Yng Chan
Summary: Fetal sex influences placental lipid metabolism and may be a key factor in the impact of maternal metabolic health on perinatal outcomes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Maddalena Ardissino, Eric A. W. Slob, Ophelia Millar, Rohin K. Reddy, Laura Lazzari, Kiran Haresh Kumar Patel, David Ryan, Mark R. Johnson, Dipender Gill, Fu Siong Ng
Summary: Mendelian randomization analysis revealed that higher systolic blood pressure, body mass index, and type 2 diabetes are causally associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia or eclampsia, while higher systolic blood pressure is also independently associated with reduced birthweight.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Todd M. Everson, Marta Vives-Usano, Emie Seyve, Andres Cardenas, Marina Lacasana, Jeffrey M. Craig, Corina Lesseur, Emily R. Baker, Nora Fernandez-Jimenez, Barbara Heude, Patrice Perron, Beatriz Gonzalez-Alzaga, Jane Halliday, Maya A. Deyssenroth, Margaret R. Karagas, Carmen Iniguez, Luigi Bouchard, Pedro Carmona-Saez, Yuk J. Loke, Ke Hao, Thalia Belmonte, Marie A. Charles, Jordi Martorell-Marugan, Evelyne Muggli, Jia Chen, Mariana F. Fernandez, Jorg Tost, Antonio Gomez-Martin, Stephanie J. London, Jordi Sunyer, Carmen J. Marsit, Johanna Lepeule, Marie-France Hivert, Mariona Bustamante
Summary: Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with disrupted placental functions and poor birth outcomes, as reflected in the placental epigenome. The study identified specific CpGs related to maternal smoking during pregnancy, with implications for environmental response genes, growth-factor signaling, and inflammation in placental function. The research highlights the links between placental DNA methylation, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and poor birth outcomes, providing insight into the mechanisms by which smoking affects placental function and fetal growth.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pengxia Yu, Jin Zhou, Caiyun Ge, Man Fang, Yuanzhen Zhang, Hui Wang
Summary: This study demonstrates that high maternal glucocorticoids can regulate the expression of placental 11β-HSD2 in a sex-specific manner, resulting in differences in placental and fetal development.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oliver C. Watkins, Preben Selvam, Reshma Appukuttan Pillai, Victoria K. B. Cracknell-Hazra, Hannah E. J. Yong, Neha Sharma, Amaury Cazenave-Gassiot, Anne K. Bendt, Keith M. Godfrey, Rohan M. Lewis, Markus R. Wenk, Shiao-Yng Chan
Summary: Maternal BMI and glycemia were found to increase the production of different placental DHA lipids, indicating an impact on different metabolic pathways. The glucose-induced elevation in placental DHA metabolism was moderated with higher maternal BMI. The associations between various DHA lipids and birthweight centile suggest that BMI and glycemia may promote fetal growth through changes in placental DHA metabolism.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Reproductive Biology
Kelly J. Baines, Rachel C. West
Summary: Fetal sex influences the immune response of the fetal, placental, and maternal during pregnancy. Male and female have different immune responses, with males prioritizing growth and being more susceptible to adverse outcomes. Male placentas and fetuses also respond to infection and inflammation differently than females. These gender-specific differences in the immune response contribute to increased male perinatal morbidity and mortality. This review explores the genetic and hormonal contributions to the sexual dimorphism of fetal and placental immunity, as well as the impact on fetal and maternal health.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sophida Phuthong, Cynthia Guadalupe Reyes-Hernandez, Pilar Rodriguez-Rodriguez, David Ramiro-Cortijo, Marta Gil-Ortega, Raquel Gonzalez-Blazquez, M. Carmen Gonzalez, Angel Luis Lopez de Pablo, Silvia M. Arribas
Summary: Fetal undernutrition has a significant impact on cardiometabolic diseases, with males showing higher susceptibility. The study revealed that male fetuses demonstrate poorer adaptation to undernutrition, associated with oxidative imbalance, reduced vascularization, and glucocorticoid barrier.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Wen Huang, Jin Zhou, Juanjuan Guo, Wen Hu, Guanghui Chen, Bin Li, Yajie Wen, Yimin Jiang, Kaili Fu, Huichang Bi, Yuanzhen Zhang, Hui Wang
Summary: Prenatal dexamethasone exposure can have lasting adverse effects on bile acid metabolism in offspring by affecting placental BA transporters and inducing imbalanced fetal-placental-maternal BA circulation, leading to increased levels of primary BAs in fetal serum.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
T. G. M. Vrijkotte, S. R. de Rooij, T. J. Roseboom, ThB Twickler
Summary: Males and females have different patterns of fetal growth, resulting in different sizes at birth. Increased maternal cortisol levels in pregnancy negatively impact fetal growth. However, it is unknown whether sexual dimorphism displays differences in maternal cortisol levels already during early pregnancy and to what extent it explains sex differences in intra-uterine growth.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christina Stern, Sarah Schwarz, Gerit Moser, Silvija Cvitic, Evelyn Jantscher-Krenn, Martin Gauster, Ursula Hiden
Summary: During pregnancy, the placenta plays a crucial role in regulating maternal physiology by secreting a variety of hormones and proteins. Maternal insulin resistance increases to supply glucose for the developing fetus, with a compensation in beta-cell mass and function. Sex differences may influence placenta-derived hormones and proteins, impacting the regulation of maternal glucose metabolism.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Kimberly O. O'Brien
Summary: The human placenta is a specialized organ responsible for housing and nourishing the fetus during pregnancy. Iron is an essential nutrient for successful pregnancy outcomes, but iron deficiency is common in pregnant women. Hormones produced by the mother, placenta, and fetus play important roles in iron homeostasis, but their functions vary in each compartment. Further research is needed to understand the partitioning of iron between these compartments.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
O. Kristiansen, M. C. Roland, M. Zucknick, T. M. Reine, S. O. Kolset, T. Henriksen, T. Lekva, T. Michelsen
Summary: The study aimed to explore the association between BMI and placental weight (PW) and found that this association was non-linear, with only the BMI<25 group showing a significant association. Fetal insulin and early pregnancy insulin were associated with PW, while late pregnancy leptin was inversely associated with PW.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Lydia L. Shook, Evan A. Bordt, Marie-Charlotte Meinsohn, David Pepin, Rose M. De Guzman, Sara Brigida, Laura J. Yockey, Kaitlyn E. James, Mackenzie W. Sullivan, Lisa M. Bebell, Drucilla J. Roberts, Anjali J. Kaimal, Jonathan Z. Li, Danny Schust, Kathryn J. Gray, Andrea G. Edlow
Summary: Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection affects placental TMPRSS2 expression in a sexually dimorphic manner, while there is no significant impact on placental ACE2 expression. The correlation between TMPRSS2 and ACE2 expression varies by fetal sex in the presence of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Pediatrics
Meredith Monaco-Brown, David A. Lawrence
Summary: Obesity in women of childbearing age is associated with placental dysfunction, abnormal fetal development, and increased risk of related diseases. Environmental chemicals also contribute to obesity and affect placental function. The immune function of the placenta plays a crucial role in clinical outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)