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A Primary Human Trophoblast Model to Study the Effect of Inflammation Associated with Maternal Obesity on Regulation of Autophagy in the Placenta
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Inflammation in maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus

P Pantham1, I L M H Aye2, T L Powell1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.

Placenta
|May 15, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can lead to chronic inflammation, potentially programming offspring for adult diseases. The placenta plays a key role in mediating these effects.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Rising maternal obesity worldwide presents significant obstetric challenges, increasing risks for mothers and infants.
  • Obesity in pregnancy is linked to complications like gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and predisposes offspring to future cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
  • Maternal obesity and GDM may induce a chronic inflammatory state ('metainflammation'), potentially programming fetal development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence linking maternal obesity and GDM to altered inflammatory profiles in mothers, fetuses, and placentas.
  • To explore the role of inflammation in the intergenerational transmission of metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies examining inflammatory markers in maternal obesity and GDM.
  • Analysis of research on maternal, fetal, and placental inflammatory responses.

Main Results:

  • Maternal inflammation associated with obesity and GDM is not consistently mirrored by fetal inflammation.
  • The placenta appears to adapt to maternal inflammatory signals.

Conclusions:

  • The placenta acts as a crucial interface, sensing and responding to the maternal inflammatory environment.
  • Maternal obesity and GDM may indirectly program fetal development and long-term health outcomes through placental adaptation.
Abstract

Keywords:
CytokinesGestational diabetes mellitusMetainflammationObesityPlacenta

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