Placental development and preeclampsia

Abstract

Serving as the interface between the fetal and maternal environment during gestation, the placenta plays critical roles in the protection of the developing fetus and the maintenance of pregnancy. The placenta is responsible for blood perfusion and maternal-fetal material exchange, immune tolerance, and the regulation of pregnancy adaptation. Defects in placental development and functional maintenance are in tight association with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia. In this article, we reviewed recent advances on human trophoblast cell differentiation and the construction of placental functional units and discuss the pathogenic factors that may contribute to the occurrence of preeclampsia.

Keywords

• human placenta
• functional units of placenta
• trophoblast
• multiple cell-cell interaction
• preeclampsia