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Maternal obesity and placental function: impaired maternal-fetal axis.

Authors :
Louwen F
Kreis NN
Ritter A
Yuan J
Source :
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics [Arch Gynecol Obstet] 2024 Jun; Vol. 309 (6), pp. 2279-2288. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Mar 18.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

The prevalence of maternal obesity rapidly increases, which represents a major public health concern worldwide. Maternal obesity is characteristic by metabolic dysfunction and chronic inflammation. It is associated with health problems in both mother and offspring. Increasing evidence indicates that the placenta is an axis connecting maternal obesity with poor outcomes in the offspring. In this brief review, we have summarized the current data regarding deregulated placental function in maternal obesity. The data show that maternal obesity induces numerous placental defects, including lipid and glucose metabolism, stress response, inflammation, immune regulation and epigenetics. These placental defects affect each other and result in a stressful intrauterine environment, which transduces and mediates the adverse effects of maternal obesity to the fetus. Further investigations are required to explore the exact molecular alterations in the placenta in maternal obesity, which may pave the way to develop specific interventions for preventing epigenetic and metabolic programming in the fetus.<br /> (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1432-0711
Volume :
309
Issue :
6
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38494514
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-024-07462-w