Exploring the Lifeline: Unpacking the Complexities of Placental Vascular Function in Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancies.

The proper development and function of the placenta are essential for the success of pregnancy and the well-being of both the fetus and the mother. Placental vascular function facilitates efficient fetal development during pregnancy by ensuring adequate gas exchange with low vascular resistance. This review focuses on how placental vascular function can be compromised in the pregnancy pathology preeclampsia, and conversely, how placental vascular dysfunction might contribute to this condition.

Unlocking the secrets of Hofbauer cells in placental (patho-) physiology: Isolation and quality assessment in human term placenta.

Introduction: Hofbauer cells (HBCs) are macrophages of fetal origin that reside in the villous tissue. They are the only immune cells within healthy villi. While HBCs perform innate immune functions such as phagocytosis and antigen presentation, they are increasingly recognized for their diverse roles in placental physiology e.

TGFβ signalling: a nexus between inflammation, placental health and preeclampsia throughout pregnancy.

Background: The placenta is a unique and pivotal organ in reproduction, controlling crucial growth and cell differentiation processes that ensure a successful pregnancy. Placental development is a tightly regulated and dynamic process, in which the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) superfamily plays a central role. This family of pleiotropic growth factors is heavily involved in regulating various aspects of reproductive biology, particularly in trophoblast differentiation during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Placental macrophages present distinct polarization pattern and effector functions depending on clinical onset of preeclampsia.

Hofbauer cells (HBCs) are resident macrophages of the human placenta, regulating immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis. HBCs of a normal placenta (CTR) exhibit mainly an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Under exaggerated chronic inflammation during pregnancy, as in preeclampsia (PE), a phenotypic switch towards M1 polarization has been proposed.

The Distinct Role of the HDL Receptor SR-BI in Cholesterol Homeostasis of Human Placental Arterial and Venous Endothelial Cells.

As opposed to adults, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the main cholesterol carrying lipoprotein in fetal circulation. The major HDL receptor, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), contributes to local cholesterol homeostasis. Arterial endothelial cells (ECA) from human placenta are enriched with cholesterol compared to venous endothelial cells (ECV).