Molecular pathways in placental-fetal development and disruption

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• The first trimester (4-12 weeks gestation) is critical for organogenesis, making fetal exposure to harm a high priority.
• Placental biomarkers in maternal circulation, cord blood, or placental tissue can quantify potential fetal harm.
• Endocrine disruption during development can lead to abnormal endocrine function in offspring.

Approach:

• Evaluated ten diverse molecular pathways in the first-trimester human placenta.
• Assessed relevance to normal fetal development and placental-fetal endocrine disruption.
• Included well-established and newly identified biomarkers from placental transcriptome analyses.

Key Points:

• Examined human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), thyroid hormone regulation, PPARγ, leptin, TGF-β, epiregulin, GDF-15, snoRNAs, serotonin, and vitamin D.
• Summarized evidence for placenta-specific production and regulation of each biomarker.
• Reviewed roles in fetal reproductive tract, brain, and other developmental domains.

Conclusions:

• Extends the concept of fetal programming to placental-fetal programming.
• Highlights the placenta's role in mediating endocrine disruption effects on fetal development.
• Suggests specific biomarkers for monitoring and understanding first-trimester developmental risks.