Cells (Jun 2023)

Hyperglycosylated-hCG: Its Role in Trophoblast Invasion and Intrauterine Growth Restriction

  • Catalin Gabriel Herghelegiu,
  • Alina Veduta,
  • Miruna Florina Stefan,
  • Stefania Lucia Magda,
  • Iuliana Ionascu,
  • Viorica Elena Radoi,
  • Daniela Nuti Oprescu,
  • Alina Mihaela Calin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12121647
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 12
p. 1647

Abstract

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Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by the placenta and its roles have been studied for over a century, being the first known pregnancy-related protein. Although its main role is to stimulate the production of progesterone by corpus luteal cells, hCG does not represent just one biologically active molecule, but a group of at least five variants, produced by different cells and each with different functions. The hyperglycosylated variant of hCG (H-hCG) plays a key role in trophoblast invasion, placental development and fetal growth. During trophoblast invasion, H-hCG promotes extravillous cytotrophoblast cells to infiltrate the decidua, and also to colonize and remodel the spiral arteries in to low resistance, larger-diameter vessels. As fetal growth is heavily reliant on nutrient availability, impaired trophoblast invasion and remodeling of the uterine arteries, leads to a defective perfusion of the placenta and fetal growth restriction. Understanding the function of H-hCG in the evolution of the placenta might unveil new ways to manage and treat fetal growth restriction.

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